Hamas praised Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp for his “brave and ethical” decision to resign, alongside several other ministers, after disagreements with coalition partners over the Netherlands’ response to ‘Israeli’ actions.
The resignation came after Veldkamp’s coalition colleagues refused to impose new sanctions on ‘Israel’ in light of its ongoing military operations in Gaza and continued settlement projects in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
In a statement, Hamas described the minister’s stance as a principled stand against what it called “Israel’s persistent aggression” and applauded the move as a rare example of political accountability in international diplomacy.
Veldkamp announced his resignation Friday evening from the caretaker government.
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.