Image Source: X/ Caspar Veldkamp
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stepped down after failing to convince his government to adopt tougher sanctions against Israel for its military actions in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
Veldkamp, a senior leader of the New Social Contract (NSC) party and a former Dutch ambassador to Israel, announced his resignation on Friday. He said he could not gain support for what he described as “meaningful measures” and accused some cabinet members of blocking even the enforcement of existing sanctions.
Explaining his decision, Veldkamp told reporters, “I also see what is happening on the ground in Gaza, the attack on Gaza City, and what is happening in the West Bank, the building decision for the disputed settlement E1, and East Jerusalem.”
Before leaving office, he cancelled three export licenses for components used in Israeli navy ships, warning that the deteriorating situation in Gaza could lead to a “risk of undesirable end use.”
Veldkamp had also been pressing the European Union to suspend its trade agreement with Israel.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to his colleague Caspar Veldkamp for the cooperation they shared during Veldkamp’s tenure as the Dutch Foreign Minister. He noted that the two countries had achieved unprecedented milestones in Armenia–Netherlands relations, which were formalized through the Strategic Partnership Declaration. Mirzoyan also wished Veldkamp success in his future endeavors.
The 61-year-old minister admitted he could not “implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary,” as reported by The Times of Israel. His departure quickly escalated into a political crisis, as all NSC ministers and state secretaries resigned from the caretaker government in solidarity.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed regret in parliament over Veldkamp’s decision and the withdrawal of his party from the government.
Opposition parties had already been pushing for a no-confidence vote, accusing him of not acting firmly enough against Israel despite his proposals. Veldkamp had also suggested banning imports from Israeli settlements, especially in response to Israel’s planned new military offensive.
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Last month, the Netherlands declared Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir persona non grata. Just this week, it joined 21 other countries in signing a declaration that condemned Israel’s approval of a major settlement project in the West Bank, calling it “unacceptable and contrary to international law.”
While political tensions rise, conditions in Gaza remain dire. Israeli military operations have forced thousands of Gaza City residents to flee south, while food supplies are running critically low.
On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a famine has now been declared in Gaza. The UN estimates that more than 500,000 Palestinians are living in catastrophic famine conditions marked by starvation, destitution, and death. Guterres wrote on X, “Just when it seems there are no words left to describe the living hell in Gaza, a new one has been added, ‘famine’.”
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