Belgium summons Israeli ambassador over Gaza occupation plans, condemning settlement expansions and highlighting a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The diplomatic confrontation in Belgium serves as a significant protest against Israel’s announced intentions to occupy the Gaza Strip and expand settlements in Palestinian territories. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot summoned Israel’s ambassador to Brussels, denouncing these actions as violations of international law and a serious threat to human rights and peace in the region, reports 24brussels.
Prevot’s formal summons follows Israel’s declaration to encircle and occupy Gaza City, aiming to exert full military control over the region. He firmly rejected this decision, linking it to ongoing colonization efforts, including the controversial E1 project east of Jerusalem and recent legislative moves by the Knesset to annex parts of the West Bank.
Belgium regards these policies as unacceptable breaches of international law, United Nations resolutions, and rulings by the International Court of Justice. Prevot warned that such actions threaten to “erase Palestine from the map” entirely and pose serious dangers to Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Belgium’s government has expressed unequivocal disapproval of Israel’s occupation plans and committed to advocating vigorously for their reversal. The Minister emphasized that escalating military operations undermine the potential for a ceasefire and the establishment of a lasting peace based on two-state coexistence.
Amid these diplomatic tensions, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening due to a tightening blockade and severe restrictions on aid entering the area. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported additional fatalities—four more individuals, including two children, died from hunger and malnutrition in just the last 24 hours. The total number of starvation-related deaths stands at 201, with 98 children among the victims.
According to data from the European Commission, the volume of aid trucks permitted by Israel is now four times lower than previously agreed upon, exacerbating the crisis. Even though 83 aid trucks entered Gaza recently, the majority were looted amid the security chaos attributed to ongoing Israeli occupation.
Violence continues unabated; Israeli fire has resulted in 20 deaths since early morning, including 14 individuals seeking humanitarian assistance. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 21 fatalities and 341 injuries over the past day amid incidents surrounding aid delivery. Since the onset of Israel’s military actions in October 2023, over 61,000 people have been killed, and approximately 152,000 injured.
This escalating humanitarian crisis has sparked widespread international condemnation of Israeli military and settlement policies in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. There is an urgent call for upholding human rights, respecting international frameworks, and implementing effective humanitarian aid mechanisms.
This diplomatic stand from Belgium unfolds within a broader context of intensified conflict in Gaza and the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians. It highlights the rising tensions among various international actors committed to peace and humanitarian principles.
Belgium’s firm stance reflects the growing European and global concern regarding settlement expansions and military occupation policies that obstruct the prospects for a viable two-state solution. The international community faces the complex challenge of balancing condemnation of violence while seeking to uphold international law and negotiate ceasefires conducive to lasting peace.
The persistent humanitarian crisis, worsened by restricted aid and escalating military actions, endangers regional stability, emphasizing the need for urgent diplomatic engagement, respect for human rights, and a collaborative effort to break the cycle of violence and suffering.
