Dutch FM Veldkamp resigns over Cabinet's block on 'Israel' sanctions
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Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned after cabinet resistance blocked his push for stronger sanctions on "Israel."
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Netherlands' Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp lays flowers during a wreath laying ceremony on the 30th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre at the Memorial Center in Potocari, Bosnia, Friday, July 11, 2025 (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Dutch Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp announced his resignation on Friday, citing obstruction from coalition partners that prevented him from advancing additional sanctions and measures against "Israel."
In his resignation statement, Veldkamp noted that the government had "already taken significant steps," but added: "I felt resistance within the government against taking additional actions in response to what is happening in Gaza City and the occupied West Bank at this moment."
He concluded that he had lost hope of shifting this stance: "This is something that will not change in the coming months and years, and if my room for maneuver is this limited, I will go home and write my resignation letter," according to Dutch News.
Cabinet Divisions
Veldkamp’s move came after a five-hour parliamentary debate exposed deep divisions within the caretaker government. The BBB and VVD parties firmly opposed going beyond existing measures, leaving Veldkamp isolated. Current Dutch restrictions are limited to banning entry for Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both notorious for extremist statements and policies.
The split within the government quickly widened. Veldkamp’s resignation was followed by the departure of four additional ministers and four state secretaries from his New Social Contract (NSC) party, threatening the stability of the caretaker coalition.
Eric van der Burg of the VVD said he was "shocked by the resignation," while left-wing opposition parties expressed disappointment, accusing Veldkamp of failing to rally sufficient support to push his proposals through.
Relations with "Israel" at a Low Point
The Hague has taken an increasingly confrontational stance toward Tel Aviv. The Netherlands recently joined EU partners in condemning Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank as "unacceptable and contrary to international law." Earlier this year, the Dutch National Security Agency, for the first time, listed "Israel" as a national security threat despite the geographical distance.
Beyond the EU, The Hague has been at the center of "Red Line" demonstrations, the largest pro-Palestinian protests in the Netherlands in decades, reflecting growing public pressure for a harder line against Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Read more: Netherlands bars Israeli security firms from NEDS 2025 over Gaza war
Veldkamp’s resignation comes amid nearly 23 months of continuous war on Gaza, which has seen relentless bombardment, siege, and starvation. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the toll has reached 62,263 martyrs and 157,365 wounded.
