Belgium favors Palestinian statehood

By Chiara Palazzo

Brussels (dpa) — Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said early on Tuesday that his country would recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly later in September, with conditions.

“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium during the UN session,” Prévot said in a post on social media platform X, adding that strong action would also be taken against the Israeli government and against any “anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism by Hamas supporters.”

Prévot cited the “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine, and in particular in Gaza,” as well as “the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law” and the country’s “failure to prevent the risk of genocide” as reasons behind the decision.

“This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people, but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground,” the foreign minister continued.

Prévot stressed that the “administrative formalization” of the recognition of Palestinian statehood by royal decree would only take place when the last hostage has been released and Hamas no longer has any control over Palestine.

The foreign minister said that 12 measures would be taken at a national level, including a ban on importing products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are illegal under international law.

Prévot also cited the inclusion of “two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders on our country’s list of ‘persona non grata’.”

Belgium’s announcement follows a similar shift by a number of countries, including France and Canada, who said they would recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly set to take place in New York from September 9. The move is vehemently opposed by Israel and its most important backer, the United States.

Almost 150 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood. However, important Western countries are not among them, including the UN veto powers the United States and the UK.

The conflict in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that has led to the deaths of more than 63,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the territory.

Israeli authorities estimate that 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive.