Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday described his Belgian counterpart, Bart De Wever, as a “weak leader” due to Belgium’s intention to recognize the State of Palestine, following other Western countries such as France and Canada.

Netanyahu said in a statement from his office: “Belgian Prime Minister De Wever is a weak leader seeking appeasement by sacrificing Israel. He wants to feed the terrorist crocodile hoping it will postpone devouring Belgium. Israel will not accept this and will continue to defend itself.”

Belgium announced on Tuesday, through its Foreign Minister Maxim Prévot, its intention to recognize the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York this September.

According to the foreign minister, the recognition comes “due to the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in Palestine, especially in Gaza, and in response to the violence carried out by Israel in violation of international law.” He added: “Belgium had to take firm decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas terrorists.”

The Belgian recognition of Palestine remains conditional on the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip and the end of Hamas’ administration of the war-torn sector for over 23 months.

The decision did not receive unanimous support within the Belgian government, as members of the two right-wing parties, the New Flemish Alliance and Reform Movement, expressed hesitation.

Prévot confirmed that “there are strict sanctions on the Israeli government… including a ban on importing products from Israeli settlements,” in addition to “possible legal prosecutions, flight and transit bans, listing two extremist Israeli ministers, several violent settlers, and Hamas leaders on the list of unwanted persons in our country.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision, saying it “sends a clear message that the only solution is the recognition of a Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside the State of Israel.”

The war in Gaza erupted following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to official data. Among 251 people taken hostage and transferred to Gaza during the attack, 47 remain in the sector, with the army stating that 25 of them have died.

Israeli attacks and military operations in Gaza have led to the deaths of at least 63,746 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.