Belgium to Recognize Palestine at UN, Announces Sanctions Against Israel

Brussels, September 2, 2025 — In a landmark diplomatic move, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has announced that Belgium will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session, scheduled from September 9 to 23 in New York .
After very long negotiations, Bart De Wever’s government has reached an agreement on the situation in Gaza, writes the Belgian newspaper Lesoir.

Here is the tweet of Maxime Prévot, Belgian foreign minister and deputy prime minister:

“In light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, and particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations—including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide—Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and on Hamas terrorists,” reiterated the Belgian Foreign Minister.

The decision, described by Prévot as a “strong political and diplomatic gesture,” comes amid escalating humanitarian concerns in Gaza and growing international pressure on Israel over its military actions and settlement policies. Prévot emphasized that the recognition is part of a broader initiative led jointly by France and Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution and reaffirm international law.

Vooruit, CD&V and Les Engagés were desperate for Belgium to take a firmer stance on Israel and join the countries planning to recognize the State of Palestine this month at the United Nations General Assembly. N-VA and MR, on the other hand, were more reluctant to push Belgium’s agenda and preferred to act at the European level, with eventual recognition subject to conditions noted Noppe in his article for the belgian journal lesoir.be

Alongside the recognition, Belgium will impose twelve firm sanctions (according to lefigaro.fr) targeting the Israeli government. These include:

A ban on importing products from Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law according to lalibre.be
A revision of public procurement policies involving Israeli companies.
Restrictions on consular assistance to Belgian citizens residing in illegal settlements.
Travel bans and “persona non grata” status for two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders.
Potential judicial proceedings and bans on overflight and transit for certain individuals.

Prévot clarified that these measures are not aimed at the Israeli population but are intended to pressure the government to comply with international humanitarian law and to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where over 63,000 people have reportedly been killed.

Conclusion

Belgium joins a growing list of countries—including France, Australia, and Canada—that have pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood. As of April 2025, 147 UN member states already recognize Palestine, representing 75% of the international community.

Prévot’s announcement marks a significant shift in Belgium’s foreign policy and positions the country as a vocal advocate for international law and human rights in the Middle East.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Belgian Government Official Statement on Palestine Recognition and Sanctions
Source: Belgium.be – Maxime Prévot 1
France and Saudi Arabia’s Joint Initiative at the UN for Palestinian Statehood
Source: RFI – France leads global appeal 2
European Commission Proposal to Suspend Israel’s Horizon Europe Participation
Source: European Commission – Horizon Europe Suspension 3
Belgium’s Official Announcement of Palestine Recognition at the UN
Source: Al Jazeera – Belgium to Recognise Palestine 4
Belgium Joins France and Others in UN Recognition of Palestine
Source: RFI – Belgium to Join France
le figaro La Belgique reconnaîtra la Palestine lors de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU
Noppe, A. (2025, September 2). Une reconnaissance de la Palestine sous conditions et des sanctions contre Israël. Le Soir. https://www.lesoir.be/696486/article/2025-09-02/une-reconnaissance-de-la-palestine-sous-conditions-et-des-sanctions-contre
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