Belgium will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Tuesday, adding to international pressure on the Zionist entity after similar moves by Australia, Britain, Canada and France.
Under mounting global criticism for its war in Gaza, ‘Israel’ has been angered by the pledges to formally recognize a Palestinian state at a summit during this month’s UN event.
Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, “paving the way for a two-state solution, or a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel,” Prevot said in a post on X.
🇧🇪🇵🇸🚨 Palestina zal door België worden erkend tijdens de Algemene Vergadering van de VN! En er worden stevige sancties genomen ten aanzien van de Israëlische regering. Elk antisemitisme of verheerlijking van terrorisme door aanhangers van Hamas zal eveneens krachtiger worden…
— Maxime PREVOT (@prevotmaxime) September 2, 2025
The decision comes “in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law,” Prevot added.
Belgium intends to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a joint diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia, Prevot said. The move is described as a political signal also aimed at condemning Israeli settlement expansion and military presence in the occupied territories.
Belgium would also levy 12 “firm” sanctions on Israel, such as a ban on importing products from its settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium, Prevot said, as quoted by Reuters.
Belgium, a member of the European Union, took the decision to step up pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, Prevot said.
Prevot also emphasized Belgium’s commitment to Palestine’s reconstruction, adding that the country would advocate for “European measures targeting Hamas and supporting new Belgian initiatives to combat antisemitism.”
The United States said on Friday it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from travelling to New York in September for a United Nations summit, where several US allies are expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state.
The United States said it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several US allies are set to recognise Palestine as a state https://t.co/Cw90mKP6j9 pic.twitter.com/Zgl3PKYpC9
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 30, 2025
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)
