Belgium is set to recognize the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, according to an declaration made on Tuesday, September 2, by Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot. Belgium will be joining countries like France and Canada in this move.

“Belgium will join the countries signatory to the New York Declaration drawing the road to a solution to two states and thus recognizing them” detailed head of Belgian diplomacy.

President Emmanuel Macron of France had announced in late July that France would also recognize the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly, scheduled to take place from September 9 to 23 in New York. More than a dozen Western governments have as urged other nations to follow suit.

Though, the recognition of a Palestinian state is conditional. It will onyl be officially formalized when “The last hostage will have been released and that Hamas will no longer assume any management of Palestine” said Maxime Prévot on X.

The minister also announced 12 sanctions against Israel, including “The importation of imports of products from colonies” Israeli, as well as “Possible legal proceedings, prohibitions for overflight and transit, the list of” non -gratae persona “in our country with two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers and Hamas leaders”.

“Viewpoint of the future”

“Recognition of the Palestinian state gives us a prospect of the future.”

The decision was not unanimous within the Belgian government, with members of the N-VA right-wing parties expressing reluctance. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that “In view of the humanitarian drama playing in Palestine and singularly in Gaza, and faced with the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law (…) Belgium had to make strong decisions to accentuate the pressure on the Israeli government and the terrorists of Hamas.”

Palestinian representatives consider this a crucial step. “Recognition of the Palestinian state gives us a prospect of the future” said on Monday the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority, Warsen Aghabekian Shahin, in Rome. “It also sends a clear message: the only solution is to recognize a Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside the state of Israel” she insisted.

Canada and Australia have also expressed intentions to recognize a state of Palestine.