Brussels – Belgium has announced it will officially recognize Palestinian statehood and impose sanctions on Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry.

The decision, unveiled Tuesday, comes as international pressure builds on Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas and allow greater humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.

Citing the “humanitarian tragedy in Gaza,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the move was aimed at increasing pressure on both the Israeli government and Hamas. “This is not about punishing the Israeli people, but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and takes action to change the situation on the ground,” Prevot posted on X.

The sanctions will include a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, restrictions on consular support for Belgian nationals living in settlements deemed illegal under international law, and a review of government contracts with Israeli firms. Belgium will also blacklist two far-right Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders. Prevot added that Brussels will push for the suspension of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel.

The move aligns Belgium with a growing group of European nations, including France, that are preparing to back Palestinian recognition at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused France and Australia of ignoring anti-Semitism, while rejecting UN warnings of famine in Gaza, where local health authorities say more than 63,500 people have been killed since October 2023. Israel has pledged to allow aid deliveries but refuses to channel them through points it claims are controlled by Hamas.

Earlier, Turkey cut all ties with Israel in response to the ongoing war in Gaza.