Brussels/ New York: Belgium has announced it will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session later this month.
The decision, confirmed by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, comes alongside a package of sanctions targeting Israel over its ongoing actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions will be imposed against the Israeli government,” Prevot declared on Tuesday via social media platform X.
Among the 12 sanctions Belgium plans to implement is a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, along with a review of public procurement policies involving Israeli companies. The measures are part of what Prevot described as Belgium’s “response to the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza.”
Prevot, who is also deputy prime minister and a member of the centrist Christian Democrat party, emphasized that Belgium’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood will be contingent on the release of all captives held in Gaza and the removal of Hamas from any role in Palestinian governance.
Belgium’s move adds to a growing wave of international support for Palestinian statehood. France, which will co-host a special UNGA meeting on the issue on September 22 alongside Saudi Arabia, has also pledged recognition, though similarly with conditions. Australian, Canadian, and UK officials have made parallel commitments.
As of April 2025, 147 UN member states, representing approximately 75% of the General Assembly, had already recognized the State of Palestine.
The decision has drawn swift condemnation from both Israel and the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed France’s recognition as a “reckless decision” that he claimed “only serves Hamas propaganda.” Rubio further announced that the US will revoke and deny visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the UNGA in New York.
The Trump administration, now in its second term, has remained firmly aligned with Israel, opposing all unilateral recognition efforts without a negotiated peace settlement.
Israeli officials have accused European governments of undermining peace efforts and emboldening militant factions through premature recognition.
The upcoming UNGA session is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the global debate over Palestinian statehood, with diplomatic tensions rising and divisions deepening between Western allies. The coordinated recognition push from several influential nations could mark a historic turning point—or spark further geopolitical friction in an already volatile region.
