Belgium announced the recognition of the State of Palestine on 22 September 2025, at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York — Prime Minister Bart De Wever declaring that "Belgium sends a strong political and diplomatic signal by joining the list of countries announcing the recognition of a Palestinian State." But this recognition is conditional: it will only be formalised in a royal decree when the last Israeli hostage is freed and Hamas is excluded from any governance. A nuanced position that reflects the tensions unique to Belgium — a French-speaking and Flemish country, seat of the European Union and NATO, and one of the most active pro-Palestinian civil societies in Europe.
To understand all the countries that support Palestine, consult our article on which countries support Palestine. And for the historical context of the conflict, read our dossier on the Nakba: history and meaning.
What is the history of relations between Belgium and Palestine?
Belgium is one of the European countries historically most committed to Palestinian rights, well before 7 October 2023. It has long been a major contributor to UNRWA: in 2024, it renewed a flexible and multi-annual contribution of 27.5 million euros over three years (2024-2026) to the agency's core budget — maintaining this support at the very moment when several European countries were suspending it under Israeli and American pressure. The occupied Palestinian Territory is a priority partner in Belgian development cooperation, with active programmes in the West Bank and Gaza for decades.
Belgium also plays a key role in European diplomacy on Palestine. Brussels, capital of the European Union and seat of the European Parliament, is a central place where Palestinian issues are debated daily. The European Parliament has voted several resolutions favourable to Palestinian rights, often introduced or supported by Belgian MEPs. The Belgian-Palestinian Association (ABP), founded several decades ago, is one of the most structured and influential Palestinian solidarity organisations in Belgium — its memoranda addressed to the federal government are regularly cited in parliamentary debates.
Belgium has maintained diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority since the Oslo Accords of 1993 and has a representation in Ramallah. It has verbally supported the two-state solution for decades and systematically votes for UN resolutions favourable to Palestinian rights.
How did Belgium recognise Palestine in 2025 — and under what conditions?
During the night of 1 to 2 September 2025, the kern — the restricted committee of the Belgian federal government — reached an agreement on Belgium's position regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The agreement is both bold in its measures and nuanced in its conditions.
On recognition: Belgium joins the co-signatories of the New York Declaration and announces its recognition of the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly on 22 September. Bart De Wever presents it as "a strong political signal". But the formalisation in a royal decree is conditional on the release of all hostages held by Hamas and the exclusion of Hamas from any Palestinian governance. A second step — the opening of a Belgian embassy and the full operationalisation of diplomatic relations — is subject to achieving the objectives of the New York Declaration: demilitarisation of Hamas and Palestinian democratic elections.
On sanctions against Israel, Belgium goes further than many of its partners. It bans the import of products from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory — in line with a ICJ ruling of July 2024, becoming the third European country to do so after Ireland and Slovenia. It refuses Israeli military flights in its airspace. It deprives Belgians residing in illegal Israeli settlements of consular assistance (except in emergencies). It instructs the federal prosecutor's office to prosecute any Belgian guilty of violations of humanitarian law in Israel or in the Palestinian Territories. It advocates for a UN interposition force to guarantee humanitarian corridors in Gaza.
These measures were welcomed by Belgian pro-Palestinian organisations, but criticised by those who felt that the conditions placed on formal recognition would make it "impossible in the short term" — the objectives (release of all hostages, Hamas out of power, Palestinian elections) being difficult to achieve simultaneously in the near future.
Why is Brussels at the heart of the European debate on Palestine?
As the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels is where EU Palestinian policy is played out. The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission are based there. Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian lobbyists are present. Palestinian embassies have been active in Brussels for years. And it is in Brussels that Rima Hassan — elected to the European Parliament in June 2024 — leads her campaign for the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement.
The figure of Rima Hassan is emblematic of the Belgian debate on Palestine. Born stateless in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, a French European MP, she has been a permanent presence in Brussels and Strasbourg since July 2024. In 2025, students of the law faculty at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) voted to name their 2025 graduating class "Rima Hassan" — a decision that provoked a political and media storm in Belgium, with calls for professional boycotts of graduates, legal proceedings, and an intense debate on academic freedom and the limits of defending the Palestinian cause. To learn more about her campaign, read our article Who is Rima Hassan?
The ULB affair illustrates a profound tension in Belgian society: between a civil society very committed to Palestine, particularly in Wallonia and Brussels, and a political and media establishment that struggles to manage Israeli and American pressure on the issue. French-speaking Belgium and Flanders also have different sensibilities — the French-speaking left is traditionally more pro-Palestinian, while right-wing Flemish parties are often closer to Israeli positions.
What is the pro-Palestinian mobilisation in Belgium?
Since October 2023, Belgium has been the scene of regular and massive demonstrations for Palestine. In Brussels, Liège, Ghent and Antwerp, tens of thousands of people have marched. On 25 September 2025, a major mobilisation took place in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, at the call of the Belgian National Coalition for Palestine, bringing together members of the Palestinian community, dozens of organisations and political parties, as well as several Belgian MPs and parliamentarians. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and demanded firm sanctions against Israel, protection for Belgian activists involved in the Gaza flotilla, and unconditional recognition of Palestine.
Belgian pro-Palestinian civil society is one of the most structured in Europe. The Belgian-Palestinian Association (ABP), the Movement against Racism, Antisemitism and Xenophobia (MRAX), trade unions such as CSC and FGTB, academic organisations and political parties (Parti socialiste, Ecolo, PTB/PVDA) maintain constant pressure on the federal government. The BDS movement is particularly active in Belgium — it is one of the European countries where boycott campaigns have the most visible impact on supermarket shelves.
Belgium and arms to Israel
Belgium has a complex history on arms deliveries to Israel. The Flemish region long authorised export licences to Israel, while Wallonia was more restrictive. After 7 October 2023, pressure from civil society led to a gradual tightening. As part of the September 2025 agreement, Belgium formalised the refusal of Israeli military flights in its airspace — a symbolic but concrete measure. It also cancelled previous military agreements with Israel, joining Spain in this approach.
Displaying solidarity with Palestine from Belgium
Boutique Palestine delivers to Belgium with free shipping. Our Palestinian keffiyehs, our Palestinian flags, our exclusive Belgium Palestine World Cup 2026 jersey and our Palestine Belgium pins are delivered directly to your door. To take concrete action, read how to help Palestine every day. 🇵🇸🇧🇪
Sources
— RTBF, Federal government agreement on sanctions and recognition, September 2025.
— RTBF, Bart De Wever announces Belgium's conditional recognition of the Palestinian State, September 2025.
— Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium supports UNRWA's mandate, 27.5 million euros 2024-2026.
— Maxime Prévot / Belgian Government, Agreement within the Restricted Ministerial Council on Palestinian sovereignty, 2025.
— WAFA, Brussels: rally demanding sanctions against the Israeli occupation, September 2025.
— Belgian-Palestinian Association, Memorandum 2024.
Your frequently asked questions about Belgium and Palestine
Does Belgium officially recognise the State of Palestine?
Belgium announced the recognition of the State of Palestine on 22 September 2025 at the UN. But the formalisation in a royal decree is conditional on the release of all hostages held by Hamas and the exclusion of Hamas from any Palestinian governance. The full operationalisation of diplomatic relations — including the opening of an embassy — is itself subject to achieving the objectives of the New York Declaration.
What is Belgium's humanitarian aid to Palestine?
Belgium is one of the most consistent contributors to UNRWA in Europe. In 2024, it renewed a contribution of 27.5 million euros over three years (2024-2026) to the agency's core budget — maintaining this support at a time when other European countries were suspending theirs. The occupied Palestinian Territory is a priority country in Belgian development cooperation, with active programmes in the West Bank and Gaza.
What sanctions has Belgium taken against Israel?
In the September 2025 agreement, Belgium banned the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements (3rd European country after Ireland and Slovenia), refused Israeli military flights in its airspace, deprived Belgians residing in settlements of consular assistance (except in emergencies), and instructed the public prosecutor to prosecute Belgians guilty of violations of humanitarian law in Israel or Palestine.
What is the link between Belgium and Rima Hassan?
Rima Hassan, Franco-Palestinian MEP elected in June 2024, sits in the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. She leads in particular the campaign for the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement. In 2025, students at the ULB law faculty (Université libre de Bruxelles) named their 2025 graduating class "Rima Hassan" — a decision that sparked a heated debate in Belgium on academic freedom and the limits of Palestinian solidarity.
Does Boutique Palestine deliver to Belgium?
Yes, Boutique Palestine delivers to Belgium with free shipping, in 4 to 6 working days. Our Belgium Palestine World Cup 2026 jersey and our Palestine Belgium pins are available exclusively.