Belgium to recognise Palestinian state at UNGA and sanction Israel

Belgium will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly later this month and impose a package of targeted sanctions on Israel, Foreign Minister and deputy prime minister Maxime Prévot announced on Tuesday, in a move aimed at increasing pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The decision follows similar pledges by several Western governments and comes after weeks of fraught negotiations within Belgium's five party coalition.

Prévot, posting on the social media platform X, said Belgium would join the signatories of the New York Declaration to help pave the way for a two state solution. He added that the decision was taken "in view of the humanitarian tragedy playing out in Palestine, and particularly in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law," calling on Belgium to take "strong decisions" to increase pressure on both the Israeli government and Hamas.

The government also outlined 12 firm measures against Israel, including a ban on importing products from settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies, and the designation of certain individuals as persona...