Resignation of Dutch Foreign Minister: "I am not in a position to take additional action against Israel"

SadaNews - Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Wildcamp announced his resignation on Friday evening after a debate regarding potential sanctions against Israel during a government session, according to the ANP news agency. Wildcamp stated, "I see that I am not in a position to take additional significant measures" to pressure Israel. The minister had expressed on Thursday his desire to take additional measures against Israel after Amsterdam declared the extremist Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich "undesirable people" in July. Additionally, the Netherlands is among the 21 countries that signed a joint statement on Thursday describing Israel's approval of a major settlement project in the occupied West Bank as "unacceptable and contrary to international law." Wildcamp mentioned that the proposed measures were "seriously discussed," but faced opposition in several cabinet meetings. Thus, the minister decided to resign, believing that he does not have "sufficient confidence in his ability to serve as foreign minister in the coming weeks, months, and year." On Friday, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, after its experts warned that 500,000 people are living in a state of "catastrophic hunger," holding Israel responsible for this situation amid the ongoing war in the sector since October 7, 2023.