Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prevot, has announced that the country will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York later this month.
Prevot made the declaration on Tuesday via the social media platform X, stating: “Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government.”
As part of the move, Belgium will impose 12 sanctions against Israel, including a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, revised procurement rules for Israeli companies, and restrictions on consular assistance for Belgians living in settlements. Additionally, Belgium will designate two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders as persona non grata.
The decision makes Belgium one of the latest Western countries to officially back Palestinian statehood amid Israel’s ongoing Operation Gideon Chariots II, aimed at seizing Gaza City.
