Sat Aug 23 07:58:51 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, formatted for “The Hindu” audience, along with a note on the Indian perspective:
**Summary:**
The Dutch government is in crisis after Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned following his failure to secure support for new sanctions against Israel over the Gaza war. Veldkamp, unable to implement what he deemed necessary policy, stepped down, leading to the resignation of other Cabinet members from his party and further destabilizing the already fragile caretaker government. This crisis stems from disagreements within the coalition regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, including a planned offensive in Gaza City amidst warnings of famine and accusations of ethnic cleansing. The Dutch government was already unstable before Veldkamp’s resignation; the government fell in June when an anti-Islam lawmaker withdrew from the ruling coalition.
**News Article:**
**Dutch Government Plunges into Chaos as Foreign Minister Resigns Over Israel Sanctions Impasse**
**Amsterdam, August 23, 2025:** The Netherlands is facing a severe political crisis following the resignation of Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Friday, August 22, 2025. Mr. Veldkamp stepped down after failing to garner sufficient support within the Dutch coalition government for imposing new sanctions on Israel in response to the escalating conflict in Gaza.
Mr. Veldkamp, a former Ambassador to Israel, had intended to introduce measures addressing Israel’s planned offensive in Gaza City and other densely populated areas. However, he was unable to convince his coalition partners of the necessity of such action. “I felt unable to implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary,” he told reporters.
The fallout from Veldkamp’s resignation was swift. The remaining Cabinet members from his New Social Contract party also resigned, throwing the Dutch government into further disarray. Party leader Eddy Van Hijum stated that the Israeli government’s actions were “diametrically opposed to international treaties.”
This crisis follows the Dutch government’s collapse in June, triggered by the withdrawal of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders from the four-party coalition over immigration disputes. The remaining parties had been functioning as a caretaker government, with elections scheduled for October. Prime Minister Dick Schoof was expected to address Parliament on Friday evening to discuss the deepening crisis.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the world’s leading food crisis authority reporting famine conditions in Gaza City and warning of its potential spread without a ceasefire and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid.
The Dutch Parliament had repeatedly delayed debates on sanctions against Israel. Opposition figures criticized the government’s perceived inaction. Kati Piri of the merged Green Left/Labour parties condemned the situation, stating, “There’s a famine, ethnic cleansing, and genocide going on… And our cabinet has been deliberating for hours about whether to take any action at all. Shameful.” Mr. Veldkamp’s specific proposal involved a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
This latest political upheaval raises serious questions about the Netherlands’ future role in international affairs and its ability to effectively address pressing global challenges, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
First Piper 