THE HAGUE: Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on Friday after a cabinet meeting failed to agree sanctions against Israel.

Last month Veldkamp declared far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich unwelcome in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands was among 21 countries that signed a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israel’s approval of a major settlement project in occupied West Bank as “unacceptable and contrary to international law”.

But after a cabinet debate on Friday about further possible measures to increase pressure on Israel were deadlocked, Veldkamp said he was “insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures”.

On Thursday Veldkamp said he wanted to take further steps against Israel, but later acknowledged he lacked confidence he could act effectively in the coming weeks or months.

“I feel constrained in setting the course I consider necessary as foreign minister,” he said.

At home, the minister had been under pressure from a wave of protests against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and “Dutch inaction”.

The demonstrations in The Hague drew between 100,000 and 150,000 people _ the largest in the Netherlands in two decades.

Protesters demanded sanctions on Israel and humanitarian access for civilians in Gaza.

No EU consensus

European Union foreign ministers have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement on collective sanctions against Israel, despite pressure from several member states.

Proposals have included suspending Israel’s participation in a 900-million-euro ($1 billion) EU science and technology programme, trade restrictions and visa bans for specific officials.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2025