BRUSSELS

Belgium's deputy premier and foreign minister reiterated his support for further sanctions against Israel on Monday, amid ongoing calls to increase pressure over the humanitarian plight in Gaza.

Speaking to Belgian public broadcaster VRT, Maxime Prevot said, "As far as I'm concerned, I advocate more sanctions," but added that there is no unanimity within the federal government on the issue.

He made the remarks a day after tens of thousands marched in Brussels in solidarity with Gaza, with organizers urging Belgium to impose an arms embargo and economic sanctions on Israel.

He said though Belgium already enforces an arms embargo it could do more, noting that the country still has commercial ties with Israeli defense companies. He called for additional measures on "violent (West Bank Israeli) settlers (and) Hamas leaders," also singlish out Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as targets of sanctions.

"But frankly, it's not little Belgium that will force Israel to bend," he said. Belgium has a population of some 12 million.

At least 55,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.