Deputy prime minister of Belgium Petra De Sutter, has asked the Belgian government to do two things. Firstly, she’s calling for the government to impose sanctions on Israel. This means she wants Belgium to take certain actions that would put pressure on Israel, like restricting trade or diplomatic relations. She believes these sanctions are necessary because of the ongoing bombings in Gaza, which she considers inhumane.
Secondly, she wants an investigation into the bombings of hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza. This means she thinks there should be a formal examination to find out what exactly happened and who might be responsible for these attacks.
The reason behind this is the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza. It started when Hamas, a group in Gaza, attacked southern Israel on October 7. This attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of about 240 hostages, according to Israel’s reports.
This conflict has become one of the bloodiest events in the long-lasting Israel-Palestinian conflict.De Sutter also suggests that the European Union should suspend its association agreement with Israel, which is meant to enhance economic and political cooperation between the two. This reflects her belief that such cooperation should be reconsidered in light of the current situation.
She also mentioned that there should be a ban on importing products from areas in Palestine that are under occupation. This means that certain goods coming from these areas should not be allowed into Belgium.
Additionally, she proposed that individuals involved in violence, including settlers, politicians, and soldiers responsible for war crimes, should not be allowed to enter the European Union. This would serve as a way to hold accountable those who have committed acts of violence during the conflict.Simultaneously, she suggested that Belgium should increase its financial support for the International Criminal Court in The Hague. This court investigates and prosecutes individuals for serious crimes like those committed in the bombings.
In summary, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium has proposed a range of actions to address the situation, including import bans, restrictions on individuals involved in violence, and changes in financial support to international organizations.