Aug. 23 (UPI) — Lawmakers in the Netherlands on Saturday rejected a motion that would recognize an independent Palestinian state and measures that would sanction Israel.

The punitive measure would have banned the importation of products made in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and banned the Dutch government from buying Israeli-made weapons, Politico reported.

A majority of ministers voted to ask the Israeli government to allow journalists into Gaza and to apply “maximum pressure” on nations that condone the actions of Hamas leaders.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported the deaths of about 61,000 Gazans after Hamas and other militants attacked and killed about 1,200 Israeli civilians and kidnapped another 250, about 50 of whom remain in captivity or have died inGaza.

The casualty figures reported by Hamas do not separate civilian deaths from Hamas deaths and have been challenged by Israel and others.

Saturday’s vote came a day after Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Friday night resigned to protest the government’s refusal to sanction Israel over conditions in Gaza.

The resignations occurred after the Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification on Friday declared a famine in Gaza.

Several members of the Netherlands’ New Social Contract Party likewise resigned on Friday — two months after the conservative Party for Freedom quit the Dutch government over differences arising from immigration concerns.

Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders demanded that the government greatly reduce the number of immigrants allowed to enter the Netherlands and resigned from the government, along with other party members, in early June.

Snapelections are scheduled on Oct. 29, and a caretaker government is in place until a new one is formed after the October election.