![\"Belgium](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784379385.webp\" "\\"Belgium")
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Photo by Issam Rimawi\/Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Belgian federal government approved a set of new measures on Saturday ahead of the summer recess, including an import ban on goods from illegally occupied Palestinian territories. <\/p>\n
The measure was originally\u00a0put forward\u00a0late last summer in response to Israel\u2019s intensive military campaign in Gaza but has long been stuck in a political deadlock, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing Euractiv<\/a>.<\/p>\n From Friday through Saturday morning, however, the cabinet approved some 88 files, including a reform that changes the calculation of working hours from a yearly to a weekly basis, as well as the trade measures.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Belgian media, such as\u00a0Le Soir, further details about the terms of the import ban, including a potential \u2018sunset clause\u2019 and which goods or sectors would be included, are still unknown.<\/p>\n The move comes as a coalition of EU governments are demanding sanctions\u00a0on\u00a0Israel\u2019s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.\u00a0<\/p>\n The EU executive recently\u00a0circulated a document\u00a0to its capitals, first reported by\u00a0Euractiv, floating different options, including an\u00a0import licensing system for settlement goods, tariffs, and a total ban.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n France, Belgium<\/a>, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain were among the countries in favour of a total import ban, while Germany and Italy were against it. The move, if deemed a foreign policy rather than a trade decision, would need\u00a0unanimous backing.\u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier in the week, Belgium\u2019s Foreign Minister Maxime Pr\u00e9vot slammed the EU and other governments for dragging their feet on stricter measures.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Commission has now finally put some options on the table, spanning two pages. This gives the impression that it is more of a token gesture than a genuine intention to make progress,\u201d he told reporters on Monday. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n