Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, paving the way for a two-state solution, or a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said in a post on X/Twitter on Tuesday.
Under mounting global criticism for its war in Gaza, Israel has been angered by the pledges to formally recognize a Palestinian state at a summit during this month's UN event.
The move adds to international pressure on Israel after similar moves by Australia, Britain, Canada, and France.
The decision comes "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," Prevot added.
Notably, the signing of the declaration at the UN doesn't directly translate into recognition of the State of Palestine, but rather a commitment to recognition when certain conditions are met.
First, all of the conditions of the French-Saudi New York Declaration must be met. These include the "mutual recognition" of Israel in the Arab world, the Democratic elections in Palestine, and the agreement on Final Status talks between both parties.
Only after these conditions have been met, every last hostage is released, and Hamas is dismantled, Belgium's Foreign Minister will sign a decree that Belgium recognises Palestine; however, no official diplomatic relations will be established at the state level, no embassy will be opened, and no official deals will be signed.
The Belgian Government's official Agreement of the Federal Core Cabinet notes that it is “aware of the trauma that Israelis have experienced after the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, Belgium will only formalize this recognition of the State of Palestine by royal decree once the last hostage has been released and terrorist organizations such as Hamas have been removed from the governance of Palestine.”
“The operationalization of diplomatic relations with this new State of Palestine, including the opening of a Belgian embassy and the conclusion of international agreements, will be carried out on the condition that the objectives of the New York Declaration have been achieved—most notably the demilitarization of Hamas and the renewal of governance following presidential and parliamentary elections—thereby providing Palestine with a strengthened and renewed Authority; all steps intended to guarantee the security of both the Israeli and the Palestinian population," the agreement clarified.
US President Donald Trump has criticized 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.
Palestinian State recognition and sanctions on Israel have been a crucial topic for Prevot, who called for harsher harsher united European actions against Israel in an interview last week. He also said that Palestinian state recognition is not a reward for October 7, but rather making a distinction between a legitimate government and a terror group.
"Incidentally, recognition is not at all a reward for the horrific terror of Hamas. On the contrary, it’s about recognizing a state, not a government. And certainly not a terrorist group,” Prevot said in an interview with De Standaard last Sunday.
Sources told The Jerusalem Post that Prevot also wanted to prohibit Defense Minister Israel Katz from entering hte country, but it was blocked.
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 sought a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United States says such a state can only be set up through direct negotiations 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 United States said on Friday it would bar Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York in September for a United Nations summit, where several US allies are expected to formally recognize Palestine as a state.
West Bank
Reuters, citing three Israeli officials, reported in August that Israel is considering annexation in the occupied West Bank as a possible response to France and other countries recognizing 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.