Belgium has announced it will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in New York, beginning on 9 September.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Belgium would join the UK, France, Canada, and Australia in extending recognition, and pledged “firm sanctions” against Israel. These will include a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and potential judicial prosecutions linked to Israel’s policies in the occupied territories.
Prevot’s announcement makes Belgium one of the latest Western nations to shift towards formal recognition of Palestinian statehood. Out of 193 UN member states, 147 already recognise Palestine as a state.
Israel has not yet responded to Belgium’s decision. However, its foreign ministry has previously condemned similar moves by other governments as “a reward for Hamas” and “harmful to efforts for a ceasefire and hostage release framework”.
The announcement comes after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared in July that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state if Israel meets conditions including a ceasefire, aid access, and steps towards a two-state solution. France, Ireland, Spain, and Norway have also extended recognition in recent years.
Belgium’s decision follows renewed settlement expansion plans in the West Bank. Earlier this month, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said a new settlement would be established to “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state.
The move also comes amid growing tensions at the UN, after the US revoked visas for 81 delegates from the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation, blocking them from attending the assembly.