Dutch FM steps down as cabinet is divided over Israel sanctions

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stepped down after the cabinet failed to reach consensus on sanctions against Israel, triggering the exit of his New Social Contract Party from the governing coalition, as reported by Al-Monitor via AFP on August 22nd.

Veldkamp had pressed for tougher measures in response to Israel’s lethal conduct in Gaza. He confirmed that proposals were “seriously discussed” but admitted he felt “insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures”. “I feel constrained in setting the course I consider necessary as foreign minister,” he explained.

Likewise, The Hague has witnessed demonstrations of up to 150,000 people, the largest in 2o years in the Netherlands, with protesters calling for sanctions on Israel and urgent humanitarian access for Gaza. Amid the protests, Veldkamp made a statement after an emergency debate in which he confirmed the Netherlands was not planning to recognise Palestine as a state, unlike its European allies of France and the UK.

The United Nations has now declared a famine in Gaza, accusing Israel of a “systematic obstruction” of aid.

The Netherlands had already taken rare steps against Israel. Last month, the country declared Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich persona non grata. The pair have been accused of repeating incitement of settler violence targeting Palestinians, promoting illegal settlements, and urging for ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Alongside 20 other countries, the Netherlands also denounced Israel’s recent approval of a major West Bank settlement plan as “unacceptable and contrary to international law”.

The Israeli ministers dismissed the moves. Smotrich accused European leaders of yielding to “the lies of radical Islam” and “rising antisemitism”. Ben-Gvir vowed to continue his actions for Israel, even if he ends up banned from “all of Europe”.

EU Foreign ministers remain divided over collective sanctions on Israel, including trade restrictions, visa bans, and the suspension of Israel’s involvement in the union’s €900m science and technology programme.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed regret over Veldkamp’s departure and the collapse of coalition unity, acknowledging that the situation in Gaza was “worsening” and “dramatic”.