Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp, part of a caretaker government, resigned from his cabinet post early on Friday over the government's stance on Israel's war in Gaza and plans for the occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.
He said the government did not support further measures against Israel over Gaza and plans for the occupied West Bank.
"I sensed resistance in the cabinet to further measures," he said, adding that he would formally resign.
The Dutch government collapsed on June 3 and the minority caretaker government is expected to remain in power until a coalition government is formed after October elections, which could take months.
Israel has begun a military offensive aimed at seizing control of Gaza City, moving civilians south, crushing Hamas and pressuring the release of hostages.
After Veldkamp leaves, all other ministers and state secretaries from the center-right New Social Contract party (NSC) will also leave the cabinet.
NSC Deputy Prime Minister and party leader Eddie Van Hijjum: "In short, we are done with it. There was no movement. There is a lack of willingness to give the foreign minister space." Van Hijjum says he and his party members cannot continue reliably.
"The actions of the Israeli government are diametrically opposed to international treaties. This must be removed," he added in his statement at the ministry of caretaker Prime Minister Schoof.
This applies to Van Hijjum, ministers Wittermark (Home Affairs), Bruins (Education) and Jansen (Public Health) and state secretaries Boerma, Struyken, Van Oostenbruggen and Palmen.
What will happen next with the caretaker government and the vacant positions remains unclear. Around 10:00 p.m. local time, Schoof made a statement in the House of Representatives.
The National Security Bureau (BNB) reacted angrily in a press release to the resignation of the NSC ministers. "The NSC calls itself the party of good governance, but now it is leaving the Netherlands without a rudder. While the talks were still ongoing, they walked away, leaving chaos behind."
In the statement, the party did not comment on the content of the discussions in the Council of Ministers regarding possible measures against Israel.
The VVD also responded to X in a statement. "We are very surprised that the NSC suddenly left the cabinet. The cabinet was discussing taking effective measures against the Netanyahu government. To withdraw in the middle of these discussions and further weaken the caretaker cabinet is irresponsible."
Earlier on Friday, a global hunger monitor officially determined that people in and around Gaza City were suffering from hunger. Israel dismissed the findings as incorrect and biased.
This week, Israel gave final approval to plans to build a settlement that would divide the occupied West Bank and fragment territory that the Palestinians want for an independent state.