Belgium taken to court over alleged failure to prevent genocide in Gaza
The Belgian state has been summoned to appear before a Brussels civil court over allegations that it has failed to uphold its obligations under the UN Genocide Convention with regard to the ongoing war in Gaza.
The case has been brought by Droit Pour Gaza/Recht Voor Gaza (Justice for Gaza), a collective comprising Belgian lawyers, academics and civil society organisations, including the Association Belgo-Palestinienne and the Coordination Nationale d'Action Pour la Paix et la Démocratie, as well as members of the Palestinian diaspora.
The plaintiffs argue that Belgium is legally obliged to act to prevent genocide and is currently falling short.
On 7 July, the group formally notified prime minister Bart De Wever, Foreign minister Maxime Prévot, Finance minister Jan Jambon and Mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke. As there has been no official response, the case is now being handled as an emergency procedure by the French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels.
Urgent action needed
The legal complaint urges Belgium to take immediate action, including closing its airspace, territorial waters and land routes to arms shipments destined for Israel, banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements, freezing the assets of Israeli officials implicated in the war and supporting the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs free trade relations.
"Like all parties to the Genocide Convention, Belgium has a legal duty to prevent and halt genocidal acts using all lawful means at its disposal," the collective told Bruzz in a statement.
De Wever’s office told Le Soir that a “fitting response” would be issued. However, Prévot criticised the lawsuit, calling it “unfair” to claim that Belgium had done nothing and warning that such actions could obstruct the functioning of the courts.
Attack on WHO
The case is unfolding amid escalating violence in Gaza once again, where the Israeli military has launched a ground offensive in Deir al-Balah. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that its staff residence and main warehouse in the city were attacked multiple times following an Israeli evacuation order.
Some WHO personnel and their families were reportedly detained and mistreated by Israeli forces after being forced to flee. One employee remains in custody. The organisation said that these attacks and acts of looting had severely hindered its ability to deliver medical aid.
Smoke rises from an Israeli strike over destroyed buildings in Gaza, seen from the Israeli border, 21 July 2025 © PHOTO JACK GUEZ / AFP
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