Overview
- Foreign minister Maxime Prévot announced Belgium will back Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN General Assembly session in September and will impose severe sanctions on Israel.
- France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Portugal previously signaled they plan similar recognition during the same UN gathering, expanding a coordinated Western move.
- Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned Belgium’s decision, warning that European countries recognizing Palestine will, in his words, “experience terror in person.”
- Gaza hospital sources cited by Al Jazeera reported at least 17 Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, while the Gaza health ministry said 13 people died of malnutrition in 24 hours and put the overall malnutrition toll at 361, figures not independently verified.
- Haaretz, citing Palestinian media, reported the IDF arrested Hebron’s mayor Tayseer Abu Sneina during a raid and that a curfew was imposed in the district, and President Donald Trump told the Daily Caller the Gaza war hurts Israel’s public relations even as he supports taking Gaza City.