Brussels — Belgium announced Tuesday that it will formally recognize Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, in a move that marks a sharp break from decades of European hesitation and places Brussels firmly among a growing bloc of countries condemning Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said the decision was taken in coordination with France, Saudi Arabia, and other partners, presenting the recognition as both a moral and political necessity. He insisted that Israel’s continued occupation, its military assault on Gaza, and its systematic violations of international law had left the international community with no choice but to elevate Palestine’s status.
The recognition is accompanied by a slate of punitive measures against Israel. Belgium unveiled 12 sanctions, including a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements, restrictions on public procurement contracts with Israeli companies, and a symbolic declaration making Hamas leaders persona non grata inside Belgium, as previously Israel declared UN Secretary General António Guterres persona non grata. Officials framed these steps as “firm” and intended to pressure both sides toward a two-state arrangement, even as Gaza remains devastated under Israeli bombardment.
More than 140 countries worldwide already recognize Palestine, but Belgium’s move is notable as it comes from within the heart of the European Union, where consensus on the issue has long been fractured. Brussels’ decision also reflects intensifying frustration across Europe with Washington’s unflinching support for Israel despite mounting evidence of genocide in Gaza.
Yet the recognition comes with conditions. Belgian officials stressed that Palestine’s full statehood recognition would be contingent upon the release of all Israeli hostages and the removal of Hamas from formal political control in Gaza. Critics, however, argue that linking Palestinian recognition to preconditions set by Israel and its allies undermines the spirit of self-determination and risks diluting the political weight of the announcement.
Belgium’s move adds to the growing diplomatic isolation of Israel, which has already faced global condemnation for what rights groups and legal scholars describe as genocidal acts against Gaza’s population. The recognition also signals Europe’s deepening split with the United States, whose refusal to pressure Israel has drawn sharp criticism across the Global South.
According to Reuters, Belgium will use the UN stage later this month to formalize its recognition, in what officials describe as a “signal of hope” for Palestinians and a call for accountability against Israel’s defiance of international law.
