Majority of Belgians want sanctions against Israel
More than seven out of ten Belgians support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to a survey by the NGO umbrella organisation 11.11.11 and Knack. More than half also want Belgium and the EU to take measures such as economic sanctions.
On Wednesday, 11.11.11 and Knack presented the results of the 2024 International Solidarity Barometer, a survey of 1,504 adults conducted between 19 September and 3 October.
According to the survey, more than 70 per cent of Belgians want an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. More than 50 per cent of respondents believe that Israel should be sanctioned for its role in the conflict. 11.11.11 therefore calls on politicians to take concrete action based on the results of the survey.
"While a genocide is taking place in Gaza, the loudest outrage is not coming from world leaders, but from ordinary citizens," says 11.11.11 director Els Hertogen. "The calls for a ceasefire, sanctions and a robust defence of human rights are louder than ever. It is high time for the international community to make it clear that war crimes and genocide will not go unpunished."
Large-scale protests
Belgians have made known that they want an end to the war in Gaza, organising several large protests since the start of the conflict last year. In October, around 32,000 people marched through the streets of Brussels, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
The UN has described the situation in northern Gaza as "apocalyptic". Humanitarian aid is unavailable and medical workers are denied access to the area. "The entire Palestinian population in northern Gaza is at risk of death from disease, starvation and violence," it said in a statement last week.
© BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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