The Brussels-Capital Region Parliament voted unanimously on Monday in a historic resolution calling on the Belgian federal government to implement arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), including those against current leaders of the Israeli enemy, most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The resolution is an unprecedented step reflecting growing European support for international accountability and a direct response to controversial statements made by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, in which he asserted that his country “would unlikely” arrest Netanyahu if he visited Belgium. This statement sparked a wave of discontent within political and human rights circles.
MPs emphasized that these statements “undermine the credibility of Belgium’s commitment to international law and constitute a violation of the spirit and letter of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”
MPs emphasized in their interventions that “international justice knows no exceptions” and that respect for international humanitarian law requires consistent and principled positions. The resolution called for the imposition of targeted sanctions against officials involved in violations in the Gaza Strip and for support for the International Criminal Court in the face of attempts to cast doubt and political pressure.
The parliamentary resolution included:
– An explicit call to implement arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli officials, without exception.
– A formal rejection of the Belgian Prime Minister’s statements granting political immunity to perpetrators of crimes.
– Establishing a permanent mechanism between the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs and the judicial authorities to expedite responses to the ICC’s requests.
– Calling for the imposition of specific sanctions on violators of international humanitarian law.
– Emphasizing the defense of the independence of the ICC within European Union institutions, including its inclusion in the European “banning” law.
The resolution represents an extension of previous positions taken by Parliament, including its February 2025 call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the imposition of sanctions on the Israeli entity, and its 2015 decision to recognize the State of Palestine.
MP Elie Kasfan, one of the resolution’s sponsors, emphasized that “what is happening in Gaza has crossed the boundaries of humanity. The systematic starvation, targeting of civilians, and destruction of infrastructure cannot be tolerated.” He added, “We are not here just to distribute food, but to raise our voices for the right to life, justice, and accountability.”
The resolution is scheduled to be placed on the agenda of the next plenary session, amid expectations that it will put increasing pressure on the Belgian federal government to take concrete measures to hold perpetrators of crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories accountable and affirm Belgium’s respect for its international obligations.
