Foreign affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp is struggling to win support for his campaign for the European Union to investigate whether Israel’s blockade of Gaza contravenes humanitarian law, Dutch media reported on Tuesday.

Veldkamp wrote to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas two weeks ago to demand an inquiry into whether Israel is in breach of its trade agreement with the EU.

He also said the Netherlands would not support an extension to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement until the investigation had been concluded. The letter signalled a shift in tone from the Netherlands’ firmly pro-Israeli stance under the current right-wing cabinet.

The NSC party minister needs the support of 14 of the 27 EU nations to force an investigation, but NOS reported that only around 11 were likely to back the call.

Spain and Ireland, who last year called for the association treaty to be be suspended, are in favour, along with France and Slovenia, but the plan is likely to face stiff resistance from Israel’s allies such as the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Democratic principles

Veldkamp is not asking for the treaty to be suspended, but wants an independent review of whether Israel’s actions in Gaza, such as blocking aid and food supplies, comply with Article 2, which says both sides must respect human rights and democratic principles.

On Monday he criticised Israel again after it resumed limited supplies of aid to Gaza, describing the move as “flawed and inadequate” in a post on X, better known as Twitter.

De aankondiging van premier Netanyahu om een minimale hoeveelheid hulp Gaza binnen te laten is gebrekkig en onvoldoende. Voor de catastrofale situatie in Gaza is massale humanitaire hulp onmiddellijk nodig om een einde te maken aan voedselnood en menselijk lijden. 1/2

— Caspar Veldkamp (@ministerBZ) May 19, 2025

The European Commission can also order an inquiry without waiting for the support of member states, but commission president Ursula von der Leyen has been reluctant to criticise Israel directly, though she has called for a ceasefire in Gaza.