Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, along with Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, informed a parliamentary committee of their government’s intention to officially recognize the State of Palestine. This decision is anticipated to be formalized during the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York at the end of September, coordinated with other European nations including France and Belgium.
This announcement follows months of hesitation from the Luxembourg government amidst growing European calls to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has escalated since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. Local health officials report that over 60,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the violence, with European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera describing the situation in Gaza as genocide.
Last week, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that the European Union would adopt a stricter stance towards Israel, including freezing payments and imposing sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers. This new approach coincided with a vote in the UN General Assembly last Friday, endorsing a declaration that outlines concrete and time-bound steps toward a two-state solution ahead of their meeting scheduled for September 22.