Belgium foreign minister Maxime Prevot
Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state during September’s United Nations General Assembly, the country’s foreign minister announced Tuesday, joining other nations seeking to pressure Israel over its war on the Gaza Strip.Palestine will be “clearly a state fully recognised on the international stage by Belgium,” foreign minister Maxime Prevot said on social media. He added that full recognition would take effect only once key conditions are met.The “formalisation” of the move will occur “once the last hostage has been released and Hamas no longer has any role in managing Palestine,” Prevot said, noting that it would be enacted by royal decree, reported The New York Times.Referencing the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, he acknowledged “the trauma caused to the Israeli people” and said Belgium’s delay in recognition was meant to respect that pain.In addition to recognising Palestine, Belgium will impose sanctions on Israel. These measures include reviewing public procurement policies with Israeli companies and banning imports from Israeli settlements. Prevot also said that two unnamed “extremist” Israeli ministers, “several violent settlers,” and Hamas leaders would be declared personae non gratae in Belgium. “This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law,” Prevot said, as quoted by The New York Times. He further indicated Belgium would back EU-level measures, including potentially ending the association agreement with Israel, which governs economic cooperation between the bloc and Israel.Belgium’s announcement follows similar moves by other European countries. French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that France would recognise Palestine, describing it as part of “its historical commitment to a just and durable peace in the Middle East.” Macron is expected to make a formal statement at the UN General Assembly, scheduled for September 9–23 in New York.Several other nations, including Britain, Canada, and Australia, have expressed willingness to recognise Palestine, though the United States and President Donald Trump have criticised such steps. Most of the UN’s 193 member states already recognise a Palestinian state, and European countries including Spain, Ireland, and Norway formalised recognition last year. Israel has consistently opposed recognition, saying it would threaten its security.
