Hague — The Netherlands has been thrown into political turmoil after Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on Friday, citing his inability to push through sanctions against Israel over its ongoing genocide in Gaza and continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Veldkamp’s resignation was swiftly followed by the withdrawal of all ministers and state secretaries from his New Social Contract (NSC) party, effectively dismantling a significant portion of the already fragile caretaker government. Their departure leaves Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s administration weakened ahead of the October 29 general elections, limiting its capacity to make decisive policy moves.
At the heart of the crisis was Veldkamp’s push for a stronger Dutch stance against Israel, including entry bans on far-right Israeli officials such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, the suspension of military export licenses, and a freeze on the EU-Israel trade agreement. His proposals repeatedly met resistance from coalition partners, particularly parties unwilling to challenge Israel directly.
“This was not a decision made lightly,” Veldkamp said in his resignation statement, stressing that continued cabinet opposition rendered his position untenable. Analysts argue his departure underscores both the internal fractures of Dutch politics and the growing rift between European governments over how to address Israel’s escalating Gaza genocide.
The resignations expose a widening crisis within Dutch politics, coming just months after the collapse of the previous coalition in June. The vacuum now complicates The Hague’s position in Brussels, where the EU remains divided on whether to escalate pressure on Israel as the humanitarian toll in Gaza grows.
According to Al Jazeera, Veldkamp’s departure was framed as a principled stand against a government unwilling to act on international law, further fueling debate on Europe’s moral responsibility amid Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinians.
