Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 2, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
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Belgium will recognize Palestine at the UN, joining other nations in pressuring Israel. Sanctions on Israel are planned, supporting a two-state solution.
(Reuters) -Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said on Tuesday, adding to international pressure on Israel after similar moves by Australia, Britain, Canada and France.
Under mounting global criticism for its war in Gaza, Israel has been angered by the pledges to formally recognise a Palestinian state at a summit during this month's U.N. event.
Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, paving the way for a two-state solution, or a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel, Prevot said in a post on X.
The decision comes "in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law," Prevot added.
Belgium would also levy 12 "firm" sanctions on Israel, such as a ban on importing products from its settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium, Prevot said.
The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United States says such a state can only be set up through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Belgium, a member of the European Union, took the decision to step up pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, Prevot said.
In 2024, the United Nations' highest court ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and its settlements were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible.
Israel says the territories are not occupied in legal terms as they are on disputed land, but the United Nations and most of the international community see them as occupied territory.
(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Belgium will recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly, according to Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot.
Belgium plans to levy 12 firm sanctions on Israel, including a ban on importing products from Israeli settlements and a review of public procurement policies.
The decision comes in light of the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and in response to violence by Israel, which is viewed as a violation of international law.
The United States asserts that a Palestinian state can only be established through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel claims that the territories are not occupied legally, as they are considered disputed land, while the UN and most of the international community regard them as occupied.
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