Belgium’s Foreign Minister Reacts to Ceasefire Announcement Between Israel and Hamas
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed “great satisfaction and hope,” but also urged “vigilance” regarding the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. This development, which took place overnight, marks the first phase of negotiations aimed at de-escalating ongoing hostilities, reports 24brussels.
“We have never been so close to a peace agreement,” Prévot stated in an interview with RTBF on Thursday morning. However, he emphasized the need for caution, recalling a previous ceasefire earlier this year that did not lead to sustained peace. “The most urgent priority remains, above all, ending the humanitarian blockade,” he added.
The proposed deal requires approval from the Israeli government, which convened on Thursday to discuss the arrangement. Officials are weighing the implications of the agreement, which includes provisions for releasing hostages held in Gaza alongside Palestinian prisoners.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a significant figure within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, has already indicated his opposition to the agreement, stating that his far-right Religious Zionism party will vote against it. He expressed concerns over the potential risks of releasing prisoners, describing it as a threat that could lead to further violence. “Great fear of the consequences of emptying prisons and releasing the next generation of terror leadership, which will do everything to continue spilling rivers of Jewish blood, God forbid,” he posted on X.
His statement reflects a broader apprehension among certain coalition members regarding the proposed concessions. “For this reason alone, we cannot join the short-sighted celebrations and vote in favor of the deal,” he reiterated.
In a related context, Prévot announced a new agreement between Belgium’s federal government and regional authorities aimed at preventing the export and transit of arms that could support Israeli military efforts. This arrangement seeks to strengthen regulations surrounding arms trade, explicitly halting exports to Israel, including dual-use goods.
Significantly, on Wednesday, Israeli naval forces intercepted ships from the Freedom Flotilla and Thousand Madleens to Gaza flotillas in international waters, which included several Belgian nationals. A week prior, boats from the Global Sumud flotilla faced similar fates, with Belgian activists held in an Israeli prison for several days
“We will work for the release of the Belgians, as we did for the previous flotilla,” Prévot confirmed. Upon returning to Belgium, participants from the flotillas voiced their frustrations about perceived governmental inaction. Prévot responded to these criticisms, asserting that while the intentions behind the flotillas are noble, they are ultimately counterproductive, given Israel’s consistent prevention of such missions from reaching Gaza. “What do they expect from me? That we send in the army?” he questioned.
Prévot indicated that diplomatic efforts are underway to secure the release of detained Belgians, with officials traveling to the detention center where they are being held for further engagement.
Displaced Palestinians in a makeshift camp in Al-Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip, 9 October 2025 © PHOTO BASHAR TALEB / AFP
