The BRICS TimesBelgium has joined a list of countries, including France, Canada, the UK who have said that they would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly session.
Belgium has confirmed that it will formally recognise a Palestinian state during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session this month, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot announced on Tuesday.
Prevot stated that Belgium will take the step at the UNGA in September, while also introducing sanctions against the Israeli government as part of efforts to push for a “two-state solution.” He posted on X: “Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government.”
By doing so, Belgium joins France, Canada, the UK and several other nations that have pledged recognition of Palestine at the UNGA, scheduled from September 9 to 23 in New York. More than a dozen Western countries have urged broader international support for Palestinian statehood.
Israel has expressed concern over the growing number of states signalling recognition of Palestine. Alongside its recognition, Belgium announced 12 sanctions on Israel, including a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, a reassessment of public procurement deals with Israeli companies, and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium.
The Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, territories occupied by Israel. However, the United States maintains that Palestinian statehood should only result from direct negotiations between the two sides.
Belgium, as an EU member, says its decision aims to exert pressure on both the Israeli government and Hamas. Prevot emphasized: “This is not about punishing the Israeli people, but about ensuring their government complies with international and humanitarian law and creating change on the ground.”
