Belgium has announced it will recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and introduce a series of sanctions against Israel, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed on Tuesday that Belgium would formally back Palestinian statehood during the UNGA session in New York, scheduled from September 9 to 23.
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“Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government,” Prevot wrote on social media platform X.
Sanctions against Israel
The Belgian government said it would adopt 12 “firm sanctions” against Israel, including:
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A ban on importing goods produced in Israeli settlements
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A review of public procurement policies involving Israeli companies
Prevot said the move was made in response to the “humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.”
Wider European support
Belgium’s recognition follows France’s announcement in July, when President Emmanuel Macron pledged to support Palestinian statehood at the UNGA. Several other European countries have indicated they will follow suit, although some are attaching conditions to their recognition.
Currently, around 147 UN member states — representing nearly 75% of the global community — officially recognise Palestine.
Gaza war toll continues to rise
The decision comes as Israel’s war in Gaza has claimed at least 63,459 lives and injured more than 160,000, according to Palestinian health officials.
Adding to the pressure, Belgian prosecutors in July referred a war crimes case against two Israeli soldiers to the International Criminal Court (ICC), following allegations of atrocities committed in Gaza.
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