Brussels: Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, has expressed support for French President Emmanuel Macron's peace initiative aimed at ending the war in Gaza through mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine.
According to Emirates News Agency, De Wever voiced his support during an episode of Het Rapport van de Wetstraat, a podcast by Het Laatste Nieuws. He commented, "No one can bear the images of children lying emaciated in a bed, deprived of humanitarian aid. The suffering must stop." This marks the first time De Wever has taken a clear stance on the conflict since assuming office, a conflict that has claimed more than 50,000 lives.
Macron's peace plan seeks to revive the two-state solution through a UN peace conference scheduled for June. The proposal calls for mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine, recognition of Palestine by Western states, and recognition of Israel's right to exist by Arab countries. De Wever remarked on the initiative, stating, "Macron's initiative at least has the merit of trying to bring a sustainable solution to the table," and he intends to bring the matter forward for discussion within the federal government.
The topic has been politically sensitive within the coalition, leading to months of silence. Tensions flared last month when De Wever, responding to an international arrest warrant, declared he would not detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he landed in Belgium, which drew criticism from coalition partners.
Internally, pressure has been mounting. CDandV leader Sammy Mahdi recently demanded Belgian recognition of Palestine and support for Macron's plan. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau went further, labeling the war in Gaza as a "genocide."
De Wever also revisited past comments and said, "This is a very old and complex conflict that cannot be viewed simplistically." He added, "Israel entered this war without an exit strategy. Tens of thousands of innocent victims have fallen. Regardless of who is to blame, this is becoming an endless series of death and destruction."
While De Wever backs a negotiated peace, he noted that "there is no place" for Hamas in any future agreement. He emphasized the necessity for a credible Palestinian Authority, an agreement on territorial boundaries, and security guarantees for Israel.