Belgium and Australia to Support Palestinian Statehood at UN General Assembly

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Key Points

Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot made the announcement on Tuesday.
Australia will take the same step of recognition at the United Nations General Assembly.

Belgium intends to acknowledge a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, as announced by Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on Tuesday. This adds to growing international pressure on Israel following similar steps taken by Australia, Britain, Canada and France.

Amid rising global criticism for its operations in Gaza, Israel is frustrated by the commitments to officially recognise a Palestinian state during this month’s UN summit.

Belgium is set to become a signatory of the New York Declaration, which is a step toward establishing a two-state solution, envisioning a peaceful coexistence of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as stated by Prevot on X.

The move is a response to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, notably in Gaza, and is a reaction to the violence Israel has exerted, allegedly violating international law, according to Prevot.

Belgium intends to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a joint diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia, Prevot said. The move is described as a political signal also aimed at condemning Israel’s settlement expansion and military presence in the territories.

US President Donald Trump has criticised Canada’s decision to back Palestinian statehood and Rubio has said the decision by France is reckless. The White House did not respond to a Reuters request for comment after Belgium’s statement.

Belgium would also levy 12 “firm” sanctions on Israel, such as a ban on importing products from its settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium, Prevot said.

European Union foreign ministers remained sharply divided during a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday over the war in Gaza, with some urging the bloc to exert significant economic pressure on Israel, while others firmly opposed such measures.

The Palestinians have long envisioned a state within the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United States maintains that such a state should emerge from direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Belgium, a member of the European Union, took the decision to step up pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, Prevot said.

Prevot also emphasized Belgium’s commitment to Palestine’s reconstruction, adding that the country would advocate for “European measures targeting Hamas and supporting new Belgian initiatives to combat antisemitism.”

The US announced on Friday it would prevent Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the United Nations summit in New York in September, where many US allies plan to formally recognise Palestinian statehood.

Possible annexation of West Bank in retaliation

According to a report by Reuters citing three Israeli officials in August, Israel is contemplating annexing parts of the occupied West Bank as a potential response to France and other nations acknowledging a Palestinian state.

In 2024, the United Nations’ highest court ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and its settlements were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible.

Israel says the territories are not occupied in legal terms as they are on disputed land, but the United Nations and most of the international community see them as occupied territory.

Israel’s annexations of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights decades ago have not won international recognition.

Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, after fighters from Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the territory, attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages.