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| Dutch foreign minister quits over failure to secure sanctions against Israel | Dutch foreign minister quits over failure to secure sanctions against Israel |
| (1 day later) | |
| Caspar Veldkamp resigns after cabinet reaches deadlock on adopting harsher measures over situation in Gaza | Caspar Veldkamp resigns after cabinet reaches deadlock on adopting harsher measures over situation in Gaza |
| The Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, has resigned after a cabinet meeting failed to secure sanctions against Israel, weakening the Netherlands’ already fragile caretaker government. | The Dutch foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, has resigned after a cabinet meeting failed to secure sanctions against Israel, weakening the Netherlands’ already fragile caretaker government. |
| Veldkamp’s colleagues from the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party also walked out after the cabinet debate late on Friday reached an impasse over adopting harsher measures against Israel. | Veldkamp’s colleagues from the centrist New Social Contract (NSC) party also walked out after the cabinet debate late on Friday reached an impasse over adopting harsher measures against Israel. |
| The discussions about taking further steps against Israel came after the Netherlands joined 20 other countries in signing a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israeli plans to build an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. Critics say the 3,400-home settlement would split the territory in half. | The discussions about taking further steps against Israel came after the Netherlands joined 20 other countries in signing a joint declaration on Thursday condemning Israeli plans to build an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank. Critics say the 3,400-home settlement would split the territory in half. |
| The Netherlands barred the far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country in July. | The Netherlands barred the far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country in July. |
| After Friday’s meeting, Veldkamp – a former ambassador to Israel – told the Dutch news agency ANP he was “insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures”. In a statement announcing his resignation, he said “we are living in a time of unprecedented geopolitical tension, where diplomacy matters more than ever”. | After Friday’s meeting, Veldkamp – a former ambassador to Israel – told the Dutch news agency ANP he was “insufficiently able to take meaningful additional measures”. In a statement announcing his resignation, he said “we are living in a time of unprecedented geopolitical tension, where diplomacy matters more than ever”. |
| Backing his stance, the NSC said its coalition partners, the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), “refuse to acknowledge the alarming situation [in Gaza] and take necessary action”. | Backing his stance, the NSC said its coalition partners, the centre-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), “refuse to acknowledge the alarming situation [in Gaza] and take necessary action”. |
| There have been a number of protests in the Netherlands to pressure the government to take action against Israel’s war in Gaza, which is nearing its two-year mark. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people took part in a demonstration in The Hague in June, making it the largest protest in the Netherlands in two decades. | There have been a number of protests in the Netherlands to pressure the government to take action against Israel’s war in Gaza, which is nearing its two-year mark. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people took part in a demonstration in The Hague in June, making it the largest protest in the Netherlands in two decades. |
| Veldkamp’s resignation came after UN-backed experts said on Friday that Gaza City and the surrounding area was in the grip of an “entirely man-made” famine, and that deaths could rise exponentially. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has only declared four famines since it was established in 2004, most recently in Sudan last year. | Veldkamp’s resignation came after UN-backed experts said on Friday that Gaza City and the surrounding area was in the grip of an “entirely man-made” famine, and that deaths could rise exponentially. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has only declared four famines since it was established in 2004, most recently in Sudan last year. |
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| The NSC wwas part of a caretaker administration that has been running the Netherlands since June, when the coalition government collapsed after the far-right politician Geert Wilders withdrew his party’s ministers from the alliance. | The NSC wwas part of a caretaker administration that has been running the Netherlands since June, when the coalition government collapsed after the far-right politician Geert Wilders withdrew his party’s ministers from the alliance. |
| The PVV’s withdrawal from the coalition in June triggered an early election, with a snap poll called for 29 October. | The PVV’s withdrawal from the coalition in June triggered an early election, with a snap poll called for 29 October. |
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