Belgium to recognise Palestinian state at UN meeting next week

These include bans on the import of goods from West Bank settlements, the limiting of consular support to Belgians living in such communities as well as restrictions on government contracts with Israeli companies.

They will “mark the condemnation of Israel’s expansionist ambitions, with its colonisation programs and military occupations,” he added.

"In the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas terrorists," Prévot went on.

"This is not about punishing the Israeli people, but rather about ensuring that its government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground."

However, he confirmed that the recognition would only take effect once Hamas have been removed from power and the remaining hostages released, noting “the trauma suffered by the Israeli people as a result of the terror attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023”.

This contrasts with the approach of the UK, which has said it will approve recognition unless Israel, not Hamas, meets its demands, which include an end to the war in Gaza and a commitment not to annex the West Bank.

The Starmer government is due to publish its "assessment" of the decision in the coming weeks, which will provide final confirmation on whether it will proceed with recognition.

But it looks like at least one of those conditions will not be met, as Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly shut down discussion of the latest ceasefire proposal during a stormy cabinet meeting yesterday.

Hamas said last month that it had accepted a proposal based on a framework devised by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff.

This is believed to include a 60-day truce and the return of roughly half the hostages, both living and dead, in two phases.

No formal response has yet been received from Israel, but Netanyahu has publicly indicated that he will not accept any deal that does not remove Hamas from power and return all the hostages immediately.

According to leaked cabinet minutes reported by Channel 13, Netanyahu told ministers yesterday that the deal was off the table.

He is also believed to have said that US President Trump pushed him to reject a partial agreement like the one under discussion - a position that Witkoff has said Washington stands behind.