The caretaker government of the Netherlands has been thrown into turmoil after nine ministers simultaneously resigned on Friday, citing the administration’s failure to take a firm stance against Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

Foreign Minister Kaspar Fieldcamp was the first to step down, declaring it “meaningless” to remain in a government unwilling to impose further sanctions on Israel. He was soon followed by Deputy Prime Minister and Social Affairs Minister Eddy van Hijum, along with other ministers from the New Social Contract (NSC) party, including those responsible for the interior, education, and health portfolios. Several state ministers also resigned.

NSC leader Nicolien van Vroonhoven confirmed that repeated attempts to reach consensus on Israel policy had collapsed, forcing the party to make what she described as a “decisive decision.” The resignations came just hours after the Netherlands joined 21 other European nations in condemning Israeli settlement expansion, while the United Nations declared Gaza officially in famine, blaming Israel for the humanitarian catastrophe engulfing more than half a million Palestinians.

Before leaving office, Fieldcamp had introduced limited measures against Tel Aviv, such as halting the export of naval parts and banning entry to extremist Israeli ministers. With NSC ministers gone, the government is left reliant on the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Farmers-Citizens Movement (BBB), reducing its parliamentary presence to just 31 out of 150 seats, far short of what is needed to govern effectively.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed regret over the resignations, warning that the Netherlands is heading into a “complex transitional period.” Meanwhile, the BBB party lamented that the country is now “without clear leadership.”

The upheaval deepens a political crisis that began less than two months ago, when the far-right Freedom Party of Geert Wilders pulled out of government. With elections set for October 29, the Netherlands faces mounting instability against the backdrop of growing European divisions over Israel’s war on Gaza.