NextFin news, Belgium's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot announced on Tuesday in Brussels that Belgium will recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, scheduled to open this Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The recognition is conditioned on Hamas releasing the last Israeli hostage and relinquishing any governing role in the future Palestinian state.
Prévot also declared that Belgium will impose a series of national sanctions on Israel in response to its military actions in Gaza and violations against Palestinians. These sanctions include restrictions on products from Israeli settlements, reviewing public procurement from Israeli companies, and limiting consular assistance to Belgians residing in illegal settlements.
The decision follows mounting criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which Belgium's Foreign Minister described as a "clear genocide," highlighting the suffering of many women and children due to hunger and ongoing violence. Prévot emphasized the ethical and legal imperatives behind Belgium's move and the need to send a strong message to Israel to halt settlement expansion and allow humanitarian aid.
Belgium's recognition of Palestine aligns with similar initiatives by France and Saudi Arabia, aiming to preserve the prospects for a two-state solution based on the borders prior to June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. However, the formal administrative recognition will only be completed once Hamas has released all Israeli hostages and ceased governing Gaza, a condition Israel has long demanded.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed Belgium's declaration, viewing it as a commitment to international law and United Nations resolutions affirming Palestinian self-determination. The OIC called on other countries to follow Belgium's example in recognizing Palestine and imposing sanctions on Israel to ensure accountability and end aggression.
Belgium's move comes amid ongoing Israeli military offensives in Gaza, with recent airstrikes causing casualties among Palestinians. The United Nations has declared a famine in Gaza, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions due to blockades restricting food, fuel, and medical supplies.
Prévot criticized the European Union for its challenges in reaching a unified stance on sanctions against Israel, stressing the importance of decisive collective action to maintain the EU's foreign policy credibility.
This announcement marks a significant development in international responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting Belgium's position on the crisis and its efforts to influence peace prospects through diplomatic recognition and targeted sanctions.
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