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Belgium has announced that it will join other countries in officially recognizing the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

Getting into it: Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot made the announcement ahead of the UN General Assembly session, stating that the move comes in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what he described as Israel’s repeated violations of international law. Prevot noted that this is not an act against the Israeli people, but rather a political and diplomatic step aimed at pressuring both the Israeli government and Hamas to end the ongoing conflict and pave the way for peace. He made it clear that while Belgium supports Palestinian statehood in principle, full diplomatic formalization will only occur once all hostages held by Hamas are released and the group relinquishes governing control of Palestinian territories.

Alongside its recognition of Palestine, Belgium announced a package of 12 sanctions targeting the Israeli government. These include a ban on importing products from Israeli settlements, a review of public procurement contracts involving Israeli companies, and restrictions on consular services for Belgians living in those settlements. Belgium also imposed travel bans on key far-right Israeli ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, as well as Hamas leaders, declaring them persona non grata.

Belgium’s recognition of Palestine will be part of a broader international push led by France and Saudi Arabia, who are co-hosting a high-level meeting during the UNGA to revive the two-state solution. Belgium joins a growing list of Western countries such as France, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom that have pledged to recognize Palestine in September.

While Israel has yet to issue an official government response, opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman called Belgium’s decision a direct consequence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diplomatic failures.