Summary
- Belgian PM De Croo calls for an immediate Gaza
cease-fire.
- Emphasizes the urgent need for a two-state solution
now.
- Condemns civilian casualties, especially the high child
death toll.
- Urges EU sanctions on Israeli settlement products.
- Supports humanitarian aid and lasting peace in the
region.
According to the Belgian public broadcaster VRT, Prime Minister Bart De Wever was urged to take further action against Israel over Gaza by the social conservative Christian Democratic and Flemish party (CD&V), the social democratic Vooruit, and the centrist Les Engages party.
"He is not doing that today,"
Lawmaker
Els Van Hoof told Radio 1, referring to the prime minister's responsibility to
determine the direction.
Van Hoof, who is also the head of the federal parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that she thinks Belgium is capable of much more, even in the absence of Europe or other nations.
"Doing nothing is a choice we cannot support, ... international law requires us to take action,"
she added.
According to the report, in spite of growing opposition,
the prime minister's Flemish nationalist N-VA party and the liberal Reformist
Movement (MR) are against sanctions against Israel.
The Belgian government declared last week that a
vote would be held in Brussels to partially suspend Israel's involvement in the
Horizon Europe research initiative.
In a separate development, Israel's ambassador
was recently called by the country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, to
address Israeli ambitions to capture Gaza City.
Israel's homicidal campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of around 61,500 people since October 2023, is drawing increasing attention. In addition to famine-related losses, the enclave has been ravaged by the military campaign.
What specific actions are growing political pressures pushing the Belgian prime minister to take against Israel?
Belgium is considering sanctions if the
humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve. Prime Minister Bart De Wever
indicated that the government may apply sanctions as a measure to pressure
Israel, although the coalition government remains divided on this issue.
Belgium initially supported reviewing this trade
and cooperation agreement with Israel due to concerns over violations of
international humanitarian law linked to the Gaza conflict, and it has pushed
for stronger measures at the European Union level.
Political pressure includes calls for Belgium
and regional governments such as Brussels to restrict arms transfers and
economic ties with Israel, particularly targeting companies involved in
military or settlement activities.