Recognition is to take place at the UN General Assembly in September. But the actual formalization of the recognition will not take place until Hamas releases all hostages and releases control over the Gaza Strip, reports Le Soir.
"Palestine will be recognized by Belgium at the UN meeting! And harsh sanctions will be imposed on the Israeli government. All anti-Semitism or glorification of terrorism from Hamas supporters will also be condemned more severely", writes Foreign Minister Prevot on X.
In July, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN meeting, to be held from 9 to 23 September in New York. Several Western countries have since given the same message.
Prevot says that the decision came "in light of the humanitarian tragedy" that is unfolding in Gaza, where Israeli offensives have displaced most of the population at least once and the UN has declared famine.
