The Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has resigned after he failed to secure government support for strong sanctions against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. Veldkamp who is representative of the New Social Contract party and has served as the Netherlands ambassador to Israel said he could not win backing as some ministers were blocking even the implementation of current sanctions.

The minister has been pushing for a suspension of the European Union’s trade agreement with Israel. He also suggested a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in response to Israel’s military offence. His resignation triggered a wider political crisis as all ministers and state secretaries from the New Social party quit the government in solidarity.