The Dutch foreign affairs committee, comprising MPs and foreign affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp, has been recalled from recess on Thursday to discuss further measures against Israel.

The debate is not expected to result in wider-ranging measures proposed by the left-wing opposition parties, such as a stricter weapons embargo, further sanctions against Israel and the recognition of the Palestinian state.

Until now Dutch unilateral action is limited to the largely symbolic gesture of imposing entry bans on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The Netherlands has since said it will participate in food airdrops over Gaza. However, according to professor of humanitarian studies Thea Hilhorst, Israel’s authorisation of the airdrops is a way of not having to open the borders to allow help in.

“Israel can avoid discussions about more serious measures,” Hilhost told the NRC. It would be better to impose “a big sanction package”, she said, and take diplomatic action, such as closing the embassies.

No motions can be put forward during a committee meeting. That would require the presence of all MPs but it is unlikely they will vote for a collective return from the summer recess.

The debate starts at 2pm and can be followed here.