Overview

• Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Belgium will back recognition at the September 9–23 UN General Assembly, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and violations of international law.
• Brussels made the step conditional on the release of the last hostage and the exclusion of Hamas from any governance role in Palestine before formalization.
• Twelve measures target Israel, including a ban on imports from settlements, possible legal actions, flight and transit restrictions, and persona non grata listings for two far‑right Israeli ministers, violent settlers and Hamas leaders.
• Belgium will join signatories of the New York Declaration advancing a two‑state roadmap, aligning with France, Canada, the UK and others ahead of a leaders’ conference co‑chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on September 22.
• The move faces resistance inside Belgium from N‑VA and MR figures, while the United States has refused visas to roughly 80 Palestinians, including Mahmoud Abbas, for the UN session.