Dutch MPs have voted not to take further steps to put pressure on Israel in the wake of the departure of foreign affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp and his eight NSC cabinet colleagues on Friday evening.

In a debate delayed by the walkout of NSC ministers, a majority of MPs rejected a series of proposed measures, including boycotting of products from the illegally occupied West Bank, and a ban on the purchase of weapons from Israel.

A motion to recognise the Palestinian state also failed to gain a majority.

Caretaker defence minister Ruben Brekelmans, who led the debate in Veldkamp’s absence, said a ban on Israeli weapons would affect Dutch operational readiness. Brekelmans said he would bring up a boycott as part of possible European measures.

The only parliamentary consensus involved the “total destruction” of Hamas. Countries that “condone” Hamas leaders should be put “under maximum pressure,” a majority of MPs said.

There was no clarification of what that might entail. A call on the Israeli government to admit international and national journalists to work in Gaza was also supported by most MPs.

Rump coalition

The walkout of the entire NSC team leaves just the right-wing liberal VVD and farmers’ party BBB, of the four parties that formed the right-wing coalition less than 14 months ago.

Prime minister Dick Schoof said he would take advice before deciding how to proceed with a rump administration whose constituent parties have just 32 of the 150 seats in parliament.

Schoof has cancelled a scheduled visit to Ukraine next week to deal with the crisis at home. The Netherlands holds elections on October 29, after which it is likely to take several months to form a new government.