The government of the Brussels-Capital Region will send €430,000 in development aid to Palestinians in the West Bank, the city's Secretary of State for International Relations Ans Persoons (Vooruit) announced on Thursday.
"We cannot remain silent," Persoons said. "Through these measures, we show our solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian population and wish to send a clear signal to those who do not respect international law."
Other measures announced by the city's government include the indefinite recall of Brussels' Economic and Trade Advisor in Tel Aviv "until further notice, as long as the violations of international law continue".
In addition, Persoons called on the Federal Government to introduce a ban on goods produced by Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories and to tighten arms shipments to the Middle-East.
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The Minister also reiterated her call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and condemned human rights violations by both Hamas and the Israeli Government.
"My position remains clear: we must increase the pressure so that Israel agrees to a humanitarian ceasefire, human rights are respected and there are no more civilian casualties," she said.
She added: "I expressly condemn any form of violence, both the atrocity committed by the terrorist organisation Hamas, and the violence committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip."
Ans Persoons was referring to Hamas surprise terrorist attack on 7 October which was the worst massacre in Israel’s history and reminiscent of the Holocaust. The EU and all its member states, including Belgium, have recognized Israel’s right to self-defense in accordance with humanitarian and international law.
