In a dramatic turn in Dutch politics, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on August 22, after failing to secure cabinet backing for new sanctions against Israel—delivering a blow to the already fragile caretaker government. Veldkamp, a former ambassador to Israel and member of the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party, told reporters he could not continue if he was unable “to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary” in light of Israel’s escalating military campaign in Gaza and pending settlement developments in the occupied West Bank. His departure prompted all remaining NSC ministers to also quit in solidarity, marking a further unraveling of governance.
The resignation followed heated cabinet discussions that ended in a stalemate over whether to impose additional sanctions on Israel. Veldkamp had proposed measures including a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, aligning with broader international concerns about Israel’s Gaza offensive and settlement expansion. But coalition partners, including the liberal VVD and populist BBB, resisted, with cabinet inaction infuriating Veldkamp and tipping the balance toward resignation.
Political fallout was swift. Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed regret over the NSC’s withdrawal and the Foreign Minister’s resignation, warning that losing the party’s presence deepens instability in the interim government which has been in power since June, following the exit of Geert Wilders’ PVV over immigration disputes. With parliamentary elections slated for October 29, the timing could delay coalition formation and create a governance vacuum.
The resignation comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A UN-backed food security authority declared on Friday that Gaza City and its surroundings are facing famine—an “entirely man-made” catastrophe, according to experts. Veldkamp argued such dire conditions demanded forthright diplomatic action. Veteran politicians like Green Left/Labor MP Kati Piri lambasted the inaction, stating in Parliament that “there’s a famine, ethnic cleansing, and genocide going on … and our cabinet has been deliberating for hours whether to take any action at all. Shameful.”
This turn of events underscores mounting public anger. Earlier this year, mass demonstrations most notably the “Red Line” protests in The Hague—saw as many as 150,000 people demand decisive Dutch action, including suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement and sanctions on Israeli settlements.
