Belgium to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Announces Sanctions on Israel

Belgium will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September, its Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot announced on Tuesday. The government also plans to impose a series of sanctions on Israel.

“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN session, and firm sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government,” Prevot said in a post on X.

The move comes amid growing international pressure on Israel following similar announcements from countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, and France. It also reflects concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing violence in the region.

Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, supporting a two-state solution that envisions Palestine coexisting peacefully alongside Israel. Prevot described the decision as a political statement condemning Israel’s settlement expansion and military activities in occupied territories.

As part of its sanctions package, Belgium plans to impose 12 measures, including banning imports from Israeli settlements, reviewing public contracts with Israeli companies, and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium.

Prevot stressed that Belgium will also support reconstruction efforts in Palestine and advocate for European measures against Hamas, while promoting initiatives to combat antisemitism.

The announcement comes amid divisions within the European Union over how to respond to the war in Gaza. Some EU foreign ministers call for economic pressure on Israel, while others oppose such measures.

Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United States maintains that Palestinian statehood can only be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel.

Meanwhile, the U.S. recently announced it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the UN summit in New York this September, where several countries are expected to formally recognize Palestine.