The Belgian government has said it will officially recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly this month.
The country’s foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it will join the UK, France, Canada, and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.
Belgium will also introduce “firm sanctions” against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.
The Israeli foreign ministry and its Belgian embassy have not yet commented on the announcement.
However, its foreign ministry previously said the UK’s plan to recognise Palestine “constitutes a reward for Hamas”.
