Belgium’s capital city plans to blacklist two “extremist ministers” and implement a boycott of goods from settlements.
On Tuesday, the Belgian government announced its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood and implement sanctions against Israel due to its military campaign in Gaza.
The European nation, which houses the main offices for both the EU and NATO, disclosed these actions on Tuesday, as pressure intensifies on Israel to secure a ceasefire with Hamas and permit increased humanitarian aid into the embattled Palestinian territory.
Citing the “humanitarian tragedy in Gaza,” Belgium has chosen to “increase pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas terrorists,” Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot posted on X. He further explained, “This is not about punishing the Israeli people, but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and takes action to change the situation on the ground.”
These sanctions involve a prohibition on importing products originating from Jewish settlements in the West Bank, alongside limitations on consular support for Belgian citizens residing in settlements considered unlawful by international law. Brussels will also conduct a review of procurement activities involving Israeli businesses and will blacklist “two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders,” Prevot stated. He also mentioned that Belgium plans to advocate for the suspension of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel.
Multiple nations, including France, are preparing to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly this month, a decision that has prompted strong disapproval from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month accused France and Australia of neglecting to combat antisemitism, asserting that acknowledging Palestine would only embolden Hamas.
Israel has disregarded UN alerts about famine in Gaza, a region where over 63,500 individuals have lost their lives since October 2023. West Jerusalem has committed to allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered, but has refused to use distribution points it alleges are controlled by Hamas.