Belgium, alongside several other EU nations, is set to officially recognise the State of Palestine this month.

Qatar has welcomed Belgium’s announcement of its intention to recognise the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to take place in New York later this month.

In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that this action demonstrates strong support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and reflects the international community’s consensus on the necessity to end the Israeli occupation.

The MoFA described this move as a positive development that aligns with international legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions, and that helps increase the prospects for achieving a fair and comprehensive peace in the region.

Furthermore, the ministry reiterated the Gulf State’s call on all nations that have not yet recognised Palestine to follow the suit, emphasising that such steps demonstrate respect for international law and support the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights to their land.

Several countries including France, Britain, New Zealand Australia, Portugal, Canada and Malta have announced recent plans to recognising Palestinian statehood, bringing the total number of countries acknowledging Palestine’s sovereignty to over 140.

Last year, countries such as Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway, and Spain also formally recognised Palestine.