Belgium to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Announces Sanctions on Israel:

In a bold diplomatic move, Belgium has announced it will officially recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month. The announcement came early Tuesday from Belgian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot, who stated the recognition comes amid what he described as a “humanitarian tragedy” unfolding in Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Prevot said, “Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government.” He further explained that the move aims to respond to the dire conditions in Gaza, where thousands have been killed and widespread famine has been reported. Belgium’s recognition of Palestine will not be immediate. Prevot clarified that the recognition will be formalised only under two key conditions: the release of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza and the complete removal of Hamas from any role in the Palestinian government. The recognition is part of a broader European shift in diplomatic stance. France, under President Emmanuel Macron, has also pledged to recognise Palestine and will co-host a high-level meeting on the matter at the UNGA on September 22, alongside Saudi Arabia. Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have signaled similar intentions, though like Belgium, their recognition is tied to specific conditions. Belgium’s actions go further than symbolic recognition. Prevot announced 12 sanctions against Israel, primarily targeting the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Among them is a ban on the import of products from settlements, a review of public procurement policies involving Israeli companies, and other economic measures aimed at pressuring Israel to change its policies in the occupied territories. While Belgium’s move has been welcomed by many human rights advocates, it has drawn strong criticism from Israel and its allies. The Israeli government has long opposed international recognition of Palestinian statehood outside of a negotiated peace deal. Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is already under sanctions from several Western countries, threatened last year that a new illegal settlement would be built in the West Bank for every country that recognises Palestine. The United States has also reacted sharply. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned France’s plans as a “reckless decision” and accused it of playing into “Hamas propaganda.” Rubio added that the Biden administration would deny and revoke visas for Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UNGA in New York. On the ground, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. According to recent figures, over 63,000 people have been killed and more than 160,000 injured in Gaza since Israel launched its military campaign. A UN-backed famine monitor recently declared that famine is now occurring in northern Gaza, with projections suggesting it could spread further south by the end of September. Belgium’s stance comes amid growing calls within Europe for a tougher response to Israel’s actions. Just last month, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp resigned after failing to convince his government to implement stronger sanctions against Israel. Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, has urged the international community to impose sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel to help end the ongoing violence. Adding to the legal pressure on Israel, Belgian prosecutors recently referred a war crimes complaint involving two Israeli soldiers to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The complaint alleges their involvement in atrocities committed during the ongoing war in Gaza. As international attention turns to the UN General Assembly later this month, Belgium’s decision marks a significant shift in European engagement with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—and may set the stage for broader international recognition of Palestinian statehood in the weeks to come.

NEWS