According to a report by the Associated Press, Belgium's foreign minister said Tuesday that the country will move toward recognizing the State of Palestine, joining an increasing number of countries preparing to take this step as Israel intensifies its offensive in Gaza.
Maxime Vivas stated that Belgium's plan to recognize the State of Palestine will be announced on September 9 at the United Nations General Assembly.
However, recognition is conditional on two conditions - returning all Israeli hostages held in Gaza and removing Hamas from political power in the coastal enclave. These conditions make it unlikely that recognition will be formally determined soon.
This announcement marks the latest sign of international support for the State of Palestine and adds Belgium to the list of more than 140 countries that have recognized the establishment of the Palestinian state, including a dozen countries in Europe.
Vivas also announced plans to ban goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and to designate Hamas leaders, violent settlers, and two right-wing Israeli ministers as undesirable persons on Tuesday.
"This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people, but rather ensuring their government respects international law and humanitarian law and takes action to try to change the local situation," Vivas said on the social media platform X.
Vivas stated that the European Union should increase pressure on Israel by suspending relations with the country, including its trade agreement known as the Association Agreement.
The war in Gaza has highlighted the ties within the group of 27 countries, triggered protests across the African continent, and caused fractures in political alliances including Belgium and its neighbor the Netherlands. However, despite the growing political tensions, the deep military, commercial, and academic ties between Israel and European institutions remain largely intact.
Belgium's statement provoked anger from Israel's right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who could be a target of new sanctions along with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
"The arrogant European countries that are being manipulated by Hamas will eventually find terrorism on their own bodies," Ben-Gvir said in a statement to the Associated Press.
France and the United Kingdom have both announced plans to recognize Palestine, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel.
Australia, Canada, and European countries are moving toward recognizing statehood, with the prerequisite being reforms by the Palestinian Authority. However, the authority is very unpopular among Palestinians, seen as corrupt and ineffective in governance. Israel opposes allowing it to play a greater role in post-war Gaza.
Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the occupied West Bank and annexed territories of East Jerusalem and Gaza, which Israel occupied during the 1967 Middle East War.
The Israeli government and most of its political factions have long opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state and now claim they will reward militants after the Hamas attack on October 7.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842153300240384/
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