Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Over Israel Sanctions Deadlock

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned after a cabinet deadlock over whether to impose sanctions on Israel amid its ongoing military operations. Veldkamp had been advocating for stronger measures, including sanctions, but faced resistance within the government, particularly from parties unwilling to go beyond existing symbolic actions such as entry bans on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. He cited his inability to take meaningful additional steps and the lack of internal consensus as reasons for his resignation, stating that his room for maneuver was too limited to continue. The Netherlands was among 21 countries condemning Israel's approval of a major West Bank settlement project as contrary to international law. Veldkamp's resignation adds tension to Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government, which has been divided over its Middle East policy. Despite his efforts, the cabinet's failure to agree on stronger sanctions highlights the challenges within the Dutch government regarding its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.