Belgium to Recognise Palestinian State at U.N. General Assembly

Belgium announced it will recognise a Palestinian state during the upcoming U.N. General Assembly, according to Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot. This follows similar moves by several other countries, increasing international attention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The decision comes amid heightened global scrutiny of the situation in Gaza. Israel has expressed concerns about the growing number of countries formally recognising Palestinian statehood during this month’s U.N. summit.
Belgium will join the New York Declaration, which supports a two-state solution aiming for peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian state, Prevot stated in a social media post.
Prevot explained that Belgium’s decision is influenced by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to actions it views as violations of international law.
The recognition is part of a diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia, intended to also highlight concerns regarding Israeli settlement expansion and military activities in the occupied territories.
The move has received mixed reactions internationally. Some U.S. officials have criticised similar recognitions by other countries, while the White House has not commented on Belgium’s announcement.
In addition to recognition, Belgium plans to impose several sanctions on Israel, including restrictions on products from Israeli settlements, a review of contracts with Israeli companies, and restrictions on Hamas officials within Belgium, Prevot said.
European Union foreign ministers recently held differing views on how to respond to the Gaza conflict, with some supporting stronger economic measures against Israel and others opposing such actions.
Palestinians have long sought statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as the intended capital. The United States has stated that a Palestinian state should result from direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Belgium’s decision reflects an intention to increase diplomatic pressure on both Israel and Hamas. Prevot also emphasised Belgium’s support for the reconstruction of Palestinian territories and efforts to address antisemitism.
Separately, the United States announced it would prevent Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to the U.N. summit in New York, where some countries are expected to formally recognise Palestine.
Regarding the West Bank, Israeli officials have reportedly considered annexation as a possible response to countries recognising Palestinian statehood.
In 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s presence and settlements in Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, are illegal and should be withdrawn.
Israel disputes the classification of these areas as occupied, describing them as disputed territories, a position not widely accepted internationally. Previous Israeli annexations of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have not been recognised by the global community.
The conflict intensified in October 2023 after Hamas militants launched attacks on Israeli communities, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking, which led to an Israeli military response in Gaza.