Belgium to Recognize Palestine, Impose Sanctions on Israel

Belgium will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said today.

“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN, and strong sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government,” Prevot wrote on the X platform.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in late July that France would recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly, which will be held from September 9 to 23 in New York.

Since then, a dozen Western governments have called on other countries around the world to do the same.

“Given the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, especially in Gaza, and faced with the violence committed by Israel in violation of international law, Belgium has had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists,” Prevot said.

According to him, Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, paving the way for a two-state solution and thereby recognizing them.

Canada has also expressed its intention to recognize Palestine. The United Kingdom has said it will recognize Palestine unless Israel takes on a series of commitments, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

A total of three-quarters of UN member states recognize the state of Palestine, which was declared by the Palestinian leadership in exile in the late 1980s.