Two Flemish parties of the ruling coalition in Belgium, the CD&V (Christian Democrats) and Vooruit (Social Democrats), called for the immediate suspension of support provided by Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT) to Belgian companies operating in Israel, while the Israeli offensive continues on the Gaza Strip.
This decision follows the previous requests from the Groen opposition party, which had exhorted made it to close its Tel Aviv office, reported the Belga news agency on Monday.
CD&V chief Sammy Mahdi said that promoting business with Israel contradicts calls for sanctions. “We support severe economic sanctions against Israel. Actively stimulating its economy by promoting trade is in contradiction with this position,” said Mr. Mahdi.
This call comes a few days before the emergency session of the Flemish Parliament dedicated to Gaza, scheduled for August 14. While the Flemish government has prohibited direct exports from arms to Israel since 2006, a recent court decision has blocked the transit of military equipment via Belgium, highlighting the limits of the current regulatory framework.
The parties also plan to suspend the association agreement between the EU and Israel and to end scientific cooperation.
Although the foreign policy is federal, the Flemish region could act independently on its own economic and commercial levers. An increasing pressure is thus exercised on the head of the coalition, the N-VA, the main party of the Flemish majority, so that it reacts.
Rejecting international calls to a ceasefire, the Israeli army has been carrying out a brutal offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, killing more than 60,800 Palestinians, for most women and children. This military campaign devastated the enclave and brought it to the edge of the famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Yoav Gallant Defense Minister for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also faced with accusations of genocide before the International Court of Justice (CIJ) for his war against the enclave.
