Belgium has imposed a ban on aircraft carrying weapons and military equipment to Israel from using its airspace. The restriction took effect on Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency. Local newspaper Le Soir reported that the decision was initiated by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. Under the new rule, all information related to flights transporting military goods to Israel must be submitted in advance to Belgian authorities.

The report stated that the main objective of the ban is to prevent the transport of Israeli arms and military goods. Inspection operations will be carried out by the Customs Authority and the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (SPF Transport). In Belgium, regional governments control arms export licenses, but the federal government oversees transport and transit activities. Therefore, this federal measure is expected to effectively limit the use of regional export licenses.

The decision comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023. The conflict has reportedly resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with Israel continuing restrictions on essential supplies despite a ceasefire.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has warned that directly confiscating Russian assets would be tantamount to an act of war and could trigger a severe crisis in Europe’s financial system. Speaking on Thursday at the ‘Ukrainian Breakfast 2026’ event on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he said Europe is not at war with Russia, and any unilateral seizure of Russian assets would violate international law and set a dangerous precedent.

De Wever explained that Europe has already immobilized a large portion of the Russian central bank’s assets, most of which are held through the Belgian financial institution Euroclear, but these assets have not been confiscated. He noted that even during World War II, frozen assets were not seized, and doing so now could severely undermine confidence in the eurozone’s financial system. He also cautioned that if sanctions were lifted in the future, Europe might face legal obligations to return seized assets, complicating the process.

Acknowledging Europe’s responsibility to support Ukraine, De Wever said the EU has pledged around 90 billion euros in aid for this year and next. He added that the frozen Russian assets would remain immobilized until the war ends and could later be used for Ukraine’s reconstruction and debt repayment.

A new joint survey by RTL Info, Ipsos, and Le Soir reveals that 67% of Belgians oppose the European Union’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance loans for Ukraine. The poll, released Monday, shows strong public backing for Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s stance that Belgium should not consent to releasing the seized funds.

Analysts attribute this opposition to concerns over potential financial and institutional risks for Belgium, as a significant portion of the frozen assets are held in Brussels-based Euroclear, a key financial clearinghouse. Only 22% of respondents supported the EU plan, while 11% expressed no opinion. Russia’s central bank has denounced the proposal as illegal and vowed to defend its interests through all available means.

The EU recently decided to keep Russian assets frozen indefinitely. Leaders are expected to debate the allocation of these funds to Ukraine during a two-day Brussels summit starting Thursday, amid growing legal and political divisions among member states.

Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken warned that if Russia were to launch a missile strike on Brussels — the centre of NATO — the alliance would respond decisively, bluntly saying that “if Moscow fires a missile at Brussels, we will wipe Moscow off the map.” In an interview with Flemish daily De Morgen, reported by international outlets, Francken dismissed European doubts about United States commitment to Article 5, citing President Donald Trump’s pledge of full backing for NATO allies. He announced about 600 F-35 jets would be deployed across Europe, arguing those aircraft pose detection challenges for Russian forces. Francken cautioned against underestimating Russia’s military-industrial capacity and said Moscow has increased munitions production. He warned a potential Russia–China alignment could challenge the West and stressed the need for unity and stronger European defence coordination. His remarks underscore rising tensions, NATO deterrence postures and political debates over defence preparedness in Europe.

Belgium will officially recognize Palestine as a state during the UN General Assembly in September, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced. The decision includes 12 sanctions on Israel, such as banning settlement imports and reviewing procurement with Israeli firms. Prévot said the move responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. France, Australia, and Canada have also pledged recognition. Currently, 147 UN member states recognize Palestine. Belgian prosecutors recently referred Israeli soldiers to the ICC for alleged war crimes.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has strongly criticized Donald Trump’s support for Russia regarding Ukraine, calling him a “thug.” Speaking on Thursday, De Wever said, “What Trump is doing is completely against Europe’s interests. He is a real thug.” Despite this, he reaffirmed Belgium’s unwavering support for Ukraine while maintaining diplomatic ties with the US. He emphasized that NATO remains a crucial alliance, and no single president can alter that.