Belgium Joins Global Push for Palestinian State Recognition/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Belgium announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, tying the step to conditions including Hamas’ removal from power. The move aligns Belgium with over 140 countries supporting Palestinian statehood and comes amid Israel’s Gaza offensive. Israel condemned the decision, warning European nations of future security risks.
Belgium Palestinian Recognition Quick Looks
- Belgium to unveil plans at UN General Assembly, Sept. 9
- Conditions: release of Israeli hostages, Hamas removal from Gaza leadership
- Plans to ban goods from Israeli settlements in West Bank
- Hamas leaders and far-right Israeli ministers to be labeled persona non grata
- Belgium urges EU to suspend Israel’s trade pact
- Israel’s Ben Gvir warns Europe is being “manipulated by Hamas”
- France, UK, and others also eyeing recognition of Palestine
- Palestinian Authority criticized for corruption, weak governance
- Palestinians seek statehood in West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza
- Israel maintains Palestinian statehood rewards militancy after Oct. 7 attacks
Belgium Joins Global Push for Palestinian State Recognition
Deep Look
BRUSSELS — Belgium is preparing to formally move toward recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced Tuesday, signaling a major diplomatic shift as Israel presses forward with its Gaza offensive.
The plan is expected to be formally outlined at the United Nations General Assembly on September 9, though officials made clear that recognition hinges on two difficult conditions: the return of all Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and the removal of Hamas from political control of the enclave. These requirements mean actual recognition may remain distant.
Still, the announcement reflects a growing international momentum. More than 140 countries worldwide have already recognized Palestinian statehood, including several in Europe, and Belgium’s step would add another Western voice pressing for progress on a two-state solution.
Sanctions and Policy Measures
Alongside the recognition announcement, Prévot unveiled a series of measures aimed at increasing pressure on Israel:
- Banning imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- Declaring Hamas leaders, violent settlers, and two far-right Israeli ministers as persona non grata in Belgium.
- Urging the European Union to consider suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs trade and cooperation.
“This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law,” Prévot explained on X (formerly Twitter).
Israeli Backlash
The move immediately drew anger from Israel’s leadership. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister — one of the individuals targeted by Belgium’s sanctions plan — accused European countries of being duped by militants.
“The self-righteous European countries being manipulated by Hamas will ultimately face terrorism themselves,” Ben Gvir told the Associated Press.
Israel has long rejected Palestinian statehood, arguing that recognition effectively rewards terrorism following Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 people.
European and Global Context
Belgium joins France and the United Kingdom, both of which have announced plans to recognize Palestine, adding weight to diplomatic pressure on Israel.
Countries such as Australia and Canada have also discussed conditional recognition, generally linking progress to reforms within the Palestinian Authority (PA). Many Palestinians criticize the PA for being corrupt and authoritarian. While it maintains limited cooperation with Israel on security, Israeli leaders insist the PA cannot effectively govern Gaza after the war.
The broader Palestinian goal remains clear: an independent state in the occupied West Bank, annexed East Jerusalem, and Gaza — all territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
EU Fractures and Ongoing War
The Gaza war has already strained ties inside the 27-member EU, fueling protests across European cities and testing political alliances. Yet, despite increasing criticism, Israel’s deep military, business, and academic ties with Europe remain intact.
Prévot’s announcement reflects growing frustration in Europe that current approaches are failing to shift the conflict’s trajectory. “More pressure is needed to bring about real change on the ground,” he said.
Whether Belgium’s move sparks a broader EU realignment or stalls under political divisions remains to be seen. But with statehood recognition climbing the European agenda, Israel faces mounting diplomatic isolation even as it continues its Gaza campaign.
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