Belgium will officially recognise the State of Palestine during this month’s United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced Tuesday, aligning the country with a growing international bloc advocating for Palestinian statehood amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
With this declaration, Belgium joins the ranks of Australia, Britain, Canada, and France—nations that have recently taken similar steps—heightening diplomatic pressure on Israel over its military campaign and settlement activities in Palestinian territories.
Prévot confirmed that Belgium will sign the New York Declaration, a joint diplomatic initiative spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution that envisions Israel and a sovereign Palestine existing peacefully side by side.
“In the face of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, especially in Gaza, and in light of Israel’s actions that violate international law, Belgium has chosen to act,” Prévot posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to recognition, Belgium intends to introduce 12 “firm” sanctions targeting Israeli policy. These include:
- A ban on imports from Israeli settlements
- Enhanced scrutiny of public procurement involving Israeli companies
- The designation of Hamas leaders as persona non grata in Belgium
Prévot emphasized that these measures are designed to hold both sides accountable: curbing Israel’s settlement expansion and military operations, while also condemning violence by Hamas.
Belgium’s announcement follows a tense EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Copenhagen last weekend, where member states were split over how to respond to the crisis. While some advocated robust economic measures against Israel, others rejected sanctions altogether.
Belgium plans to push for broader EU action, including measures against Hamas, while also launching new domestic initiatives to combat antisemitism and support Palestinian reconstruction efforts.
Israel swiftly condemned Belgium’s recognition move, which has also sparked criticism among some of its international allies. U.S. President Donald Trump denounced Canada’s similar decision, and Republican Senator Marco Rubio called France’s position “reckless.” The White House has yet to respond to Belgium’s announcement.
Washington has maintained that Palestinian statehood should result from direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, not unilateral recognition. In a controversial move, the U.S. announced last Friday that it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the UN summit in September, where multiple countries are expected to formalise recognition of Palestine.
Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as the capital. In a landmark 2024 ruling, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation and settlement activities illegal and demanded their termination “as soon as possible.”
Israel disputes the ICJ’s findings, arguing that the territories are “disputed” rather than “occupied.” Its annexations of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights remain unrecognised by the international community.
Israel’s military operation in Gaza began in October 2023, following a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages. The conflict has since triggered a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, drawing widespread condemnation from global leaders and human rights organizations.
Belgium’s move signals a growing diplomatic shift toward recognising Palestinian statehood—and a call for renewed efforts to resolve one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.
