Belgium to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN general assembly

Tuesday 02 September 2025 - 07:15

By: Sahili Aya

Belgium to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN general assembly

Belgium has announced that it will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York this September. The declaration was made by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who emphasized that Brussels is joining other countries such as France, Canada, and Australia in supporting the two-state solution.

Prévot explained that the recognition is part of a broader European initiative launched after France’s recent announcement. However, he noted that the recognition is conditional: it will only take effect once all hostages are released and Hamas is no longer in control of Palestinian governance.

Alongside the announcement, Belgium unveiled 12 sanctions targeting Israel. These include a ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements, restrictions on overflight and transit, potential legal action against individuals, and the designation of certain Israeli ministers, violent settlers, and Hamas leaders as persona non grata.

The decision has sparked debate within the Belgian government, with right-wing parties expressing opposition. Nevertheless, Prévot argued that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank made it necessary for Belgium to adopt firm measures.

For Palestinian representatives, this recognition represents hope. “It provides us with a future perspective and sends a clear message: peace can only be achieved with two states living side by side,” said Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority.

Currently, about three-quarters of UN member states recognize Palestine, first proclaimed in 1988. The move comes as international pressure intensifies on Israel to end the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza since October 2023.