Belgium calls for an immediate ceasefire and to stop the violent settlers
Belgium wants to gather a large group of European countries to start a process for the recognition of a Palestinian State to end the cycle of violence in the region, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) said on Monday.
De Croo met with his Palestinian counterpart Mohammad Mustafa in Brussels on Monday, the day after an Israeli attack that killed 45 people at a refugee camp in Rafah according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (left), Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa (middle) and Prime Minister Alexander De Cro
"Totally unacceptable. You lead people to a safe zone and it is then attacked with bombs," said De Croo, adding that the attack confirmed that an end to the violence, a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages by Hamas can be the only priorities. He stressed that finding a solution to get out of the conflict "will only succeed if there are responsible and reasonable leaders around the table along both sides."
When I listen to [Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa] and his ministers, I see an absolute willingness from the Palestinian side to have that kind of conversation. I hope soon there will also be a willingness from the Israeli side to put reasonable and responsible people around the table.
According to De Croo, there is also "100% understanding" along the Palestinian side for the role Belgium wants to play in "bringing together a large group of European countries" to engage in a process that should lead to a ceasefire and the release of the hostages – which should include the recognition of the Palestinian State.
Prime Minister Mustafa confirmed this, saying he "appreciated" the Belgian position towards the conflict. "We have a long relationship with Belgium, which has long supported the Palestinian cause, and we appreciate its position on what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank."
The day before meeting De Croo, Mustafa also discussed how to join forces to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR), Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and other representatives of Arab, European and EU countries.