Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot has threatened to block the Federal Government unless it takes a tougher approach against Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
With the Israeli army launching its latest assault into what is left of Gaza City, a leading government figure from the centrist party Les Engagés has joined other coalition parties (CD&V and Vooruit), in calling for stronger actions against Israel, including sanctions and Belgium's official recognition of Palestinian statehood.
"If there is no stricter tone within the government about human rights violations by the Israeli government or if there are no steps towards recognition of Palestine, a major crisis threatens," Belgium's foreign minister says in an interview with De Standaard on Monday.
A chasm has been widening inside the so-called Arizona coalition government ahead of the first key cabinet meeting "on the geopolitical" situation on Wednesday, where the topic of Palestine is expected to dominate.
Prévot, who is Deputy Prime Minister, wants to act quickly. "Because soon there may be nothing left of Palestine," he said, adding: "For a two-state solution, you need two states." Prévot does not rule out "blocking government files if we do not take a tougher stance on Israel."
Last week, the Belgian Foreign Minister called the famine in Gaza "shameful", denouncing how "in the 21st century, children are dying of hunger because aid is being blocked." He has also strongly advocated for Israel's partial suspension from the EU's flagship research programme, Horizon Europe, on the European stage.
'Unacceptable'
Ruling right-wing parties, Flemish nationalists N-VA and liberals MR, have been accused of dragging Belgium's feet when it comes to holding Israel accountable for human rights abuses in the war in Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank.
On Monday, Prévot launched a direct attack on MR leader George-Louis Bouchez, who is not a government minister and has been accused of single-handedly blocking any progress on holding Israel to account as party leader.
People and a journalist rush toward the scene of an explosion following an Israeli strike which reportedly targeted a school in the Zeitoun district on the outskirts of Gaza City, on September 1, 2024. Credit: Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP / Belga
"It is unacceptable that the attitude of one person should jeopardise the reputation of the entire country," Prévot said about Bouchez, arguing that taking a strong stance will allow Belgium to gain international credibility. "Every party stands to gain from this."
On Monday afternoon, Flemish Christian Democrat (CD&V) leader Sammy Mahdi echoed Prévot's calls to force the government into action on Gaza. "We must move forward together, otherwise the government will face many problems."
"Parties must understand that we cannot do nothing about Israel and at the same time ensure progress is made on issues that are in their favour," Mahdi told RTBF. "We must ensure that the disaster that has been unfolding for months in Palestine can finally come to an end."
At the UN
This week, the fragile federal coalition has to find an agreement on whether they will sign the New York Declaration, a France-led initiative to recognise the "necessity" of a Palestinian state. The government will also need to agree its position on this issue ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York in September during Wednesday’s key cabinet meeting.
There is also growing frustration about the relative silence of Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) on the Palestine issue.
This is despite a recent IPSOS poll showing that six in ten Flemish people believe that De Wever should condemn the war in Gaza more sharply. A large majority believe that Israel is guilty of genocide (75%) and that there should be sanctions against the Netanyahu government (73%).
Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot pictured during a plenary session of the Chamber at the Federal Parliament in Brussels, Thursday 20 March 2025. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Some dissent is even coming from inside the N-VA ranks. Regional Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir also came out in favour of recognising a Palestinian state over the weekend. "As a Kurdish woman and a Flemish nationalist, I consider the recognition of the Palestinian people as a nation to be crucial," she also told De Standard.
Faced with growing pressure, MR reiterated on Monday they are "resolutely committed" to the perspective of a two-state solution, providing that Hamas are disarmed and removed from power. Bouchez also "strongly condemns" the suffering inflicted on civilian populations, while saying that delivering humanitarian aid is a"top priority".
On Tuesday, De Wever also maintained his position that the recognition of Palestine was "pointless" and "counterproductive" unless these certain conditions are met. These include: "the demilitarisation of Hamas, the release of the hostages and security guarantees for Israel."
Can it bring down the government?
Foreign Minister Prévot warned MR and N-VA that there are more government MPs inside the coalition that are now receptive to the opposition's call for a change of majority in parliament over the Gaza issue.
"One party argues that everyone must defend its positions at all costs, while it itself turns a deaf ear to what is important," the foreign minister said about MR.
However, a leading political expert on Belgian politics at the Centre for Socio-Political Research and Information (CRISP), Benjamin Biard, does not believe this issue will bring down the Arizona coalition – even if it does "raise questions about the stability of this government."
"Clearly, we can see that there is more tension today than there was a year ago between MR and Les Engagés members, even if that doesn't mean it's open warfare either," Biard told The Brussels Times. "In any case, the honeymoon period seems to be over. There are tensions."
Palestinians facing deadly shortages in Gaza gather to recover food from aid convoys Credit: Bashar Taleb / AFP / Belga
Bouchez's proposal to table a motion to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara particularly irked the current foreign minister back in April. "Prévot was very uncomfortable with what could be seen as a form of parallel diplomacy," Biard explains.
Now, the two parties also currently do not see eye-to-eye on Palestine issue. "For me and my party, Gaza is indeed a crucial issue," Prevot says. "As a humanist and guardian of our foreign policy, I cannot allow us to drag our feet. We absolutely must find a solution within the government."
Normal tensions?
Yet CRISP's Biard believes it would be "premature" for any party to bring down the government over this issue, making it more unlikely that Prévot's positioning will change the government's course on Palestine.
Tensions had already surfaced when De Wever did not confirm that Belgium would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under the warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024.
"Here too, this crystallised opposition and internal divisions," says Biard. "But it is quite normal to have tensions within the government in Belgium, because these are coalitions that currently bring together five parties, seven in the previous one."
Moreover, there was much speculation about the De Croo government's longevity between 2020 and 2024, but Biard underlines that in the end it was able to hold on until the elections.
"I would add that the parties that are responsible, or at least deemed responsible, for the premature fall of a government are traditionally punished by the electorate," Biard explains.
