Belgium to recognise Palestine, announces sanctions on Israel and Hamas

Brussels – “Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN session!” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said in a post on X overnight after days of negotiations within the kingdom’s composite governing majority.

Prévot added that “firm sanctions are being imposed on the Israeli government. Any anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism by Hamas supporters will also be more strongly denounced.”

“In view of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine and particularly in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, taking into account its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists,” the minister wrote in his lengthy post.

The federal government has planned 12 unilateral national decisions. Among them, “Belgium will intensify its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians by every possible means. In addition, the Minister of Development Cooperation will allocate EUR 12.5 million on top of the EUR 7 million already allocated this year for humanitarian aid in Gaza.” The evacuation of children suffering from serious illnesses will also continue. 

The Brussels government will also demand that violent settlers and Hamas terrorists be added to the European list of personae non gratae on Belgian territory. Also, extremist ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as well as Hamas political and military leaders, will be personae non gratae on Belgian territory. 

Prévot also announced that the federal government will demand a total ban on the export and transit of weapons to Israel from Belgium. There will also be a ban on the import of goods produced, exploited, or processed in the territories illegally occupied by Israel. Belgians living in the colonies will also pay a price, as they will see consular services from the motherland reduced “to a minimum.” Belgians living in the colonies will also see consular services provided by the Belgian state reduced to a minimum. Finally, requests by Israeli military flights to fly over Belgian airspace will be rejected.