Belgium Announces Recognition of Palestine, Citing Duty to Prevent Genocide
Belgium’s foreign minister said the country will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN this month, joining other Western nations amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Belgium announced it will recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, joining Australia, Britain, Canada, and France in a growing wave of countries pressing Israel over its war on Gaza, Belgian media reported.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said the decision was made “in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law.”
Israel’s military campaign has devastated much of Gaza, leaving more than 63,000 people dead — the majority civilians — and displacing nearly all of the enclave’s more than 2 million residents.
The move comes as Israel faces mounting isolation on the world stage, amid accusations of genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and the collective punishment of Gaza’s civilian population.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned last month that a “man-made famine” was taking hold in and around Gaza City, while Israel continues to restrict aid deliveries despite widespread hunger.
In a detailed statement posted on X, Prévot wrote that Belgium has decided to “take strong decisions” to increase pressure o Israel “in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide.
“This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground,” Prévot added.
Ongoing Genocide
Since reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has continued its bloody aerial bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians.
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 63,500 Palestinians, with more than 160,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.
Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
