Belgium is calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip, Development Cooperation Minister Caroline Gennez told a plenary session of the House on Thursday.
This request follows a similar appeal made on Wednesday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The European Parliament also called for a "humanitarian pause" on Thursday.
Gennez called for "help to reach the people". The minister of the Flemish socialist party Vooruit also rejected that humanitarian aid might fall into the hands of the terrorist group Hamas. "We only work with recognised humanitarian organisations. Not Hamas. This has to stop."
For his part, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo reminded MPs of Belgium's position in the conflict between Israel and Hamas: respect for international law and international humanitarian law, a call for de-escalation and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
