Since Israel’s war with Gaza began on October 7, 2023, more than a dozen officials across Europe have resigned in protest of the government’s stance towards what many describe as genocide in the enclave.
From Westminster lawmakers to Madrid pastors and The Hague, politicians and public figures have resigned and say they cannot remain silent about what is happening in Gaza.
Turkish Anadolu News Agency has compiled a list of these resignations.
Netherlands: Foreign Minister etc.
The recent famous resignation occurred in the Netherlands last Saturday, when a conflict over sanctions against Israel led to the collapse of some of the ruling coalition.
Caspar Veldkamp resigned as Foreign Minister after the Union Partner blocked his proposal. These include an illegal embargo on goods from Israeli settlements, a ban on the purchase of arms from Israel, a travel ban on far-right Israeli ministers, and a perception of the Palestinian state.
The majority of lawmakers supported only one measure, urging Israel to allow journalists and observers to Gaza.
His resignation caused a domino effect, with the New Social Contract of Centre (NSC) withdrawing all ministers and state secretaries from the caretaker government. His resignation included the acting vice-prime minister, the home minister, the health minister and four other cabinet members.
“In short, we’ve finished it,” NSC leader and former deputy prime minister Eddie Van Hee-jum told reporters, calling the Israeli government’s actions “a complete opposition to international treaties.”
Caregiver Prime Minister Dick Schuf expressed “deep regret” about his resignation, describing the worsening situation in Gaza as “dramatic.”
He cancelled a planned visit to Ukraine to contain internal backlash, and 32 of the 150 seats in the parliament remained after the NSC withdrawal saw a decline in government.
UK: Labour MP’s wave protest star position
In the UK, several lawmakers left the front bench after the current prime minister, Labour leader Kiel resisted an immediate ceasefire call in his time as an opposition leader.
Just a month after the start of the Gaza War, Labour MP Imran Hussein resigned from the Starry Sky ministerial team, saying he “want to strongly defend the ceasefire” in Gaza. Hussein, who was the shadow minister of the New Deal for Workers, said his stance was “substantially” different from the stars.
A week later, Jess Phillips, a Birmingham Yardley MP, quit his role as Shadow’s Minister of Domestic Abuse and Protection. She was among 56 Labour MPs, including eight members of the Shadow Cabinet who voted for the Scottish National Party amendment to the King’s speech calling for a ceasefire.
On the same day, Yasmin Qureshi, a MP in southeastern Bolton, also resigned from her post as minister of Shadow Equations and voted for the ceasefire motion. In her statement, she acted “with regret,” but said, “I had to vote on behalf of my conscience and thousands of members.”
In August 2024, Mark Smith, a senior foreign ministry official based at the British Embassy in Dublin, also resigned in protest of British arms sales to Israel. He warned that the government could be “conspired with war crimes,” and said it raised concerns “at all levels.”
The rebound has spread beyond Westminster.
In the local council, Shaista Aziz and Amal Latif of Oxford, Amna Abdullatif of Manchester and Altaf Patel of Blackburn all resigned from the party.
Former senior MP Lynn Jones also left shortly after the war began, and Palestinian photographer and young worker officer Rubaba Khalid resigned from his resignation, citing Starme’s remarks in Gaza.
Spain: Minister Podemos abandons the Union Government
Tensions within the coalition deepened in Spain after Sumar, a junior partner, including five ministers of the Podemos Party, blocked Podemos leader Ioneberala from speaking during a parliamentary debate on Palestine in December 2023.
Friction with the Union was addressing other issues, but a Podemos source told Spanish outlet Diario Red that it was “straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Bellara was one of Israel’s most intense critics in Congress, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of planning a genocide in October 2023.
Instead, Agustin Santos spoke on behalf of Sumar, recognising the Palestine state to the government, revising the arms agreement with Israel, and calling for an investigation by the International Criminal Court. However, he did not use the term “genocide” at the time.
Shortly afterwards, all five Podemos lawmakers announced they would leave the Sumar Alliance and the Union government.
Ireland: Expert resigns from EU rights agency
In Ireland, senior human rights lawyer Michael Farrell resigned from the Council of Europe’s anti-racist group in mid-July, protesting his account as Gaza’s silence.
Farrell, who served for 14 years as a representative of the European Commission on Ireland’s racism and intolerance, said he could no longer serve while the bodies refused to condemn Israel’s attacks.
He said his repeated efforts to raise the issue were suppressed and when he finally brought a motion before Ecri’s entire July session, it was defeated beyond the group’s mission.
“If we were unable to comment on the horrific attacks in Gaza, we felt we would not be able to continue to take part in criticizing the nation for not observing human rights within the country,” he said.
Belgium: Risk Alliance
Belgium is also on the verge of its own political showdown.
Foreign Minister Maxim Prebat recently warned that the coalition government could face a risk of collapse over the war between Israel and Gaza.
“If the government does not take a more severe stance on human rights violations by the Israeli government or accept Palestine, there is a risk of a major crisis,” he told the Daily de Standard.
Prevot confirmed that a memo of the proposal will be posted on the table during a meeting with Prime Minister Bart de Wever on Wednesday.
He also hinted at using political leverage, saying that he would not rule out blocking government decisions if the issue has not been resolved.