Belgium Eyes Palestinian Recognition After Hamas Steps Back from Gaza Governance

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Monday that he has instructed his cabinet to work toward a decision on recognizing Palestinian statehood. The move comes after militant group Hamas announced earlier in the day that it would dissolve the body that has governed Gaza for nearly 20 years.

Prévot had previously stated that Hamas stepping away from power was a prerequisite for Belgian recognition. Speaking to VRT, he said: "I don't know if we will be ready by Friday," referring to an upcoming ministerial council, "but it will be on the table soon."

European support for recognizing Palestinian statehood has grown in recent years, largely due to Israel's war in Gaza, which followed Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. That attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. Gaza's health ministry, which was under the Hamas-run government, reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since the war began; UN agencies and independent experts generally consider the ministry's casualty figures reliable.

Additionally, increased violence and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, diplomatic incidents with European nations, election interference, Israeli military campaigns against neighboring countries, and aggressive rhetoric by Israeli politicians have also strained relations with Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron led an effort that saw France, the UK, Canada, and Australia recognize Palestinian statehood in 2025. Spain, Ireland, and Norway had already done so in 2024.

While Hamas's move to step away from Gaza governance was cautiously welcomed by observers such as the UN, the issue of disarmament remains unresolved, as does the impact this announcement will have on the ground.