Belgium Says It Will Recognize Palestine if Hostages Are Freed
Belgium has announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state—but only under specific conditions. The move, revealed by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, is contingent on the release of all hostages held in Gaza and the removal of Hamas from power.
Prévot emphasized that Belgium seeks to grant full international recognition to Palestine, but only if these preconditions are met. The decision aligns Belgium with a growing number of countries pressuring Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, according to The New York Times.
The announcement reflects growing discontent among European leaders over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which, according to local health authorities, has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths. In a statement on social media platform X, Prévot cited Belgium’s “international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide,” The Hill reported.
Belgium’s stance echoes recent comments from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has pledged to support Palestinian recognition at the upcoming UN meeting. Other European nations—such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway—have already formally recognized a Palestinian state.
In addition to the recognition plan, Belgium will implement sanctions against Israel. These include a ban on products originating from Israeli settlements and travel restrictions for certain Israeli officials and members of Hamas. “This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people,” Prévot said, “but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law.”
Israel continues to oppose international recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that it poses a threat to national security.
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