Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned on Friday following a cabinet deadlock over proposed sanctions against Israel amid its military actions in Gaza.

Veldkamp, a former ambassador to Israel, had sought support for a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in response to a planned offensive in Gaza City, but failed to secure agreement from coalition partners.

He told journalists he felt unable to “implement policy myself and chart the course I deem necessary.”

Following his resignation, all remaining ministers and state secretaries from his New Social Contract party also quit the government, intensifying instability in the caretaker cabinet.

The government had already been operating in caretaker mode since June, when its coalition collapsed after withdrawal of support by a far-right party.

International observers had warned that famine conditions were intensifying in Gaza City, amid ongoing military operations and restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Parliament had repeatedly delayed debate on further sanctions.

Critics including Green Left and Labour MPs expressed frustration at prolonged inaction amid accusations of ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

Veldkamp had previously imposed travel bans on two far-right Israeli ministers and revoked export licences for military-related goods, and had called for an EU review of its association agreement with Israel.

However, efforts to introduce additional punitive measures in his cabinet reached an impasse.

A motion to recognize an independent Palestinian state and measures such as boycotts of settlement goods and weapons purchases were rejected by Dutch MPs over the weekend, extending the political stalemate.