Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced that Belgium will join the joint declaration recognizing the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, in a move aimed at increasing international pressure on Israel.
In a statement posted on X, Prévot said the decision was taken in response to the “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine and Israel’s violations of international law.”
The step is part of a joint diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia.
At the same time, Belgium announced 12 punitive measures against Israel, including banning imports from settlements, reviewing procurement policies with Israeli companies, and designating several Hamas leaders as persona non grata.
This move comes amid deep international divisions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Belgium following the path of countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.
The official announcement of recognition is expected at this month’s UN summit, despite opposition from the United States and Israel.
