Dutch foreign minister resigns over government’s stance on Gaza war

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced his resignation Friday evening from the caretaker government, citing opposition to its refusal to impose further measures against 'Israel' over its ongoing war on Gaza.

Veldkamp said the government does not support taking “additional significant measures” against "Israel" for its assault on Gaza and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, adding that he “faced resistance within the cabinet.”

On Thursday, the minister had expressed his intention to push for tougher action following the Netherlands’ July decision to declare far-right 'Israeli' ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich persona non grata. The Netherlands is also among 21 countries that signed a joint statement Thursday condemning 'Israel’s' approval of a major settlement project in the West Bank as “unacceptable and illegal under international law.”

Veldkamp explained that while his proposals were seriously discussed, they met opposition in several cabinet meetings, leaving him without sufficient confidence to continue as foreign minister in the coming weeks and months.

The Dutch government collapsed on June 3 and is expected to remain in caretaker status until a new coalition is formed after October’s elections, a process that could take months.

His resignation came on the same day the United Nations officially declared famine in Gaza, where experts estimate 500,000 people face “catastrophic hunger,” holding "Israel" responsible amid the war that has raged in the territory since 2023.