Belgium has announced it will recognise a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session later this month, while also imposing sanctions on Israel. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed the move in a statement on X, outlining steps his government is taking to align with international law and support peace efforts in the Middle East.
Sanctions against Israeli settlements
Prevot detailed several measures that target Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank. These include a ban on the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies, and the designation of two Israeli government ministers along with several violent settlers as persona non grata in Belgium.
He stressed that Belgium’s recognition of Palestine would only be formalised through royal decree after all captives held in Gaza are released and “Hamas no longer has any role in managing Palestine.”
Palestinian Ministry welcomes Belgian stance
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed Belgium’s announcement, calling it a step that aligns with international law and United Nations resolutions. In a statement on X, the ministry said the decision protects the two-state solution and supports efforts to achieve lasting peace.
It urged other countries to follow Belgium’s lead “quickly” to intensify international efforts against what it described as “crimes of genocide, displacement, starvation, and annexation.” The ministry also appealed for opening a genuine political path to resolve the decades-old conflict.
Growing global pressure on Israel
Belgium’s decision comes at a time when international criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza is intensifying. Several European countries have debated recognition of a Palestinian state in recent years, but Belgium’s announcement marks one of the most decisive steps yet from a European Union member state.
Read more: Israel Kills 17 Palestinians in Gaza Since Dawn
Human rights organisations have long pressed EU governments to take stronger measures against Israel’s settlement expansion, which the UN considers illegal under international law.
Trump: Israel losing the PR battle
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, in remarks to the Daily Caller, said Israel is “not winning the world of public relations.” He noted that while Israel may be advancing militarily in Gaza, the war is damaging its standing abroad, including in Washington.
“Israel was the strongest lobby I’ve ever seen. They had total control over Congress, and now they don’t, you know,” Trump said. “There’s no question about it. [Israel] may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations.”
A shift in international diplomacy
Belgium’s recognition of Palestine signals a potential shift in European diplomacy, with implications for Israel’s foreign relations and the wider Middle East peace process. Analysts believe the move could encourage other EU countries to adopt similar positions, especially as public opinion across Europe continues to turn against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Fresh Wave of Attacks in Northern Gaza
Israel kills 17 Palestinians in Gaza since dawn in a series of strikes that have intensified violence in the besieged enclave. Ambulance crews confirmed that three people were killed in shelling in the Abu Iskandar and Jabalia areas, north of Gaza City. The attacks, which began early Tuesday, add to the growing toll of civilian deaths amid the ongoing conflict.
Health authorities in Gaza warned that the situation remains critical as bombardments continue in densely populated neighborhoods. Emergency workers struggle to reach affected areas due to damaged roads and the constant threat of renewed strikes.
Shooting During Tammun Raid
Tensions also escalated in Tammun, a town in the northern West Bank. On Monday evening, Israeli forces opened fire during a raid, injuring five members of a Palestinian family. The Palestine Red Crescent confirmed that soldiers also shot at an ambulance that had rushed to the scene.
Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,, X and TikTok for latest updates