NGO coalition criticises delays in Belgian sanctions over violence in Gaza

2 February 2026

Only nine of the 14 sanctions agreed by Belgium's federal government to condemn Israel’s violence in Gaza have so far been implemented, according to the Flemish umbrella organisation for international solidarity 11.11.11. "This is not a technical delay, but political unwillingness on the part of specific ministers and parties," the organisation argues.

Five months after the deal was reached, 11.11.11 examined parliamentary questions, consulted ministerial cabinets and carried out its own assessment. The review shows that five of the 14 agreed measures have not yet been put in place.

These include a national import ban on products from Israeli settlements, as well as national sanctions such as entry bans, the freezing of assets and a ban on financial transactions. According to the organisation, these are "precisely the measures that would have the greatest impact", 11.11.11 says.

In its report, the umbrella organisation is particularly critical of the governing parties N-VA and MR. The unimplemented measures largely fall under the responsibility of ministers from those parties, it says. According to 11.11.11, N-VA also refused to take part in the evaluation.

Belgium says conditions not yet met to formally recognise Palestine

Belgium is not yet ready to give full formal recognition to Palestine, Foreign minister Maxime Prevot said on Wednesday, because all the agreed...

belganewsagency.eu

The organisation is calling on all federal government parties to put the outstanding measures back on the agenda and to ensure their immediate implementation. "Belgium cannot continue to waver between indignation and passivity," it concludes.

European criticism

Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib criticised Israel on Sunday evening for violating the ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli air strikes killed at least 32 people across the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

"We condemn the repeated violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians were killed and injured by Israeli strikes over the weekend," Lahbib wrote on X. "International humanitarian law must be upheld. Civilians must be protected everywhere, at all times."