The Ghent City Council passed a motion, on Tuesday evening, formally recognising the State of Palestine while urging the federal and Flemish governments to condemn Israel’s new offensive in Gaza.
The motion denounces Israel’s plans “to occupy the entire Gaza Strip” and criticises its “disproportionate military response” in the region.
It calls for a permanent ceasefire, secure humanitarian corridors, and the immediate release of all hostages still held by Hamas.
Ghent is asking the federal government to join like-minded countries in recognising Palestine as a state, suspend the EU-Israel association agreement, impose sanctions on Israeli officials, and ban imports produced in illegal settlements.
The Flemish government is also being urged to halt arms exports to Israel.
The motion is largely symbolic, as cities do not have the authority to recognise other nations, but it represents a deliberate political stance by Ghent. The city council referred to previous motions and stressed its societal responsibility to “break the silence.”
