Belgium's deputy prime minister, Petra De Sutter, has called on the country's government to impose sanctions on Israel due to its relentless bombing campaign in Gaza. De Sutter, from the Greens party, criticized the Israeli bombings as inhumane and urged for immediate action to address the escalating violence. The deputy PM also called for an investigation into war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas, along with measures to target individuals and companies providing financial support to Hamas.

The call for sanctions comes as Israel faces accusations of violating international laws on the conduct of war, including hitting hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza. The bombing campaign began on 7 October after Hamas militants launched attacks on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people. The war has led to the deaths of over 10,000 Gaza residents, with around 40% of them being children, as confirmed by the Hamas-run health ministry.

De Sutter, in a press release, proposed that Belgium allocate additional funds to the International Criminal Court to investigate the alleged war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas. She also called for sanctions on individuals and companies supporting Hamas financially. Furthermore, she suggested an import ban on products from occupied Palestinian territories and a ban on violent settlers, politicians, and soldiers responsible for war crimes from entering the European Union.

Highlighting the need for a political solution, De Sutter emphasized that the bombing campaign only served to increase hopelessness among the Palestinians. She stressed that without a concrete and comprehensive resolution, the cycle of violence would continue unabated. De Sutter's proposal for a political solution includes recognizing Palestine as a state, a move she believes is necessary to break the cycle of recurring violence.

This call for sanctions on Israel by a senior political figure highlights the growing international concern and condemnation towards the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. European countries, including Belgium, are under pressure to take action to address the escalating violence and bring about a lasting resolution to the generations-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.