The Belgian government intends to move forward with recognition of the state of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly later this month, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim Prevost has announced.

“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium during the UN session” and at the same time “severe sanctions against the Israeli government” will be announced, the Belgian diplomatic chief said via X.

In late July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly, to be held from September 9 to 23 in New York.

More than ten other Western countries have called on those governments around the world that have not done so to do so.

New Israeli bombings with at least 13 dead in Gaza

At the same time, a civil defense spokesman in the Gaza Strip said at least 13 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight.

A strike on a building where people were staying killed ten people before a second one on another building claimed the lives of three more, Mahmoud Bassal explained, speaking to Agence France-Presse. He clarified that both bombings took place in Gaza City.