Belgium will support the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly and introduce new sanctions on Israel, according to an announcement by Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot.

Belgium plans to “vote for the recognition of Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly,” aligning with recent moves by other European countries to apply diplomatic pressure for a two-state solution.

The Belgian government made clear that formal recognition would take place once all hostages had been released “and Hamas no longer exercises any form of governance in the Gaza Strip”. Alongside recognition, Belgium would ban “he import of products from Israeli settlements, tighten rules on public procurement for Israeli firms, and restrict consular help for Belgians living in West Bank settlements. It will also bar overflights or transit linked to Israel’s military, declare certain Israeli ministers and violent settlers persona non grata, and back the suspension of EU co-operation agreements with Israel.

The Belgian government clarified that its actions are aimed at supporting peace efforts and not “punishing the Israeli people.”