Belgium hints at sanctions against Israel over Gaza's humanitarian crisis

BRUSSELS

Belgium could impose sanctions against Israel if the humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve, Prime Minister Bart De Wever told the House of Representatives on Thursday, RTL Info reported.

De Wever assured lawmakers during the plenary session that the government is united in its concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and is committed to ending human suffering as soon as possible.

The coalition government, however, remains divided on the issue. Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot revealed in a committee meeting on Wednesday that he was unable to convince all coalition partners to support suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement at the European level, ahead of the EU ministerial meeting on July 15.

"Europe is the only way to send a clear message to improve the humanitarian situation. We will closely monitor calls to maintain pressure. If the opposite proves to be true, the government could apply sanctions," De Wever said.

The opposition remained unconvinced. MP Staf Aerts said: "You are not ruling out sanctions in the future. 65,000 people have already died." Another MP, Sofie Merckx, added: "What a shame. You are all complicit if you do nothing."

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 58,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

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.