BRUSSELS, 7th May, 2025 (WAM) -- Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, has expressed support for French President Emmanuel Macron's peace initiative aimed at ending the war in Gaza through mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine.

In an episode of Het Rapport van de Wetstraat, a podcast by Het Laatste Nieuws, De Wever broke his silence on the conflict, saying: "No one can bear the images of children lying emaciated in a bed, deprived of humanitarian aid. The suffering must stop."

Since taking office, De Wever has avoided taking a clear position on the war in Gaza, which has claimed more than 50,000 lives. Macron's plan, he said, seeks to revive the two-state solution via a UN peace conference in June.

The proposal calls for mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine, recognition of Palestine by Western states and recognition of Israel's right to exist by Arab countries.

"Macron's initiative at least has the merit of trying to bring a sustainable solution to the table," De Wever told the podcast, adding that he intends to bring the matter forward for discussion within the federal government.

The topic has been politically sensitive within the coalition, leading to months of silence. Tensions flared last month when De Wever, responding to an international arrest warrant, said he would not detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he landed in Belgium, prompting criticism from coalition partners.

Pressure had also been mounting internally. CD&V leader Sammy Mahdi recently demanded Belgian recognition of Palestine and support for Macron's plan. Vooruit leader Conner Rousseau went further, calling the war in Gaza a "genocide."

De Wever also revisited past comments and said, "This is a very old and complex conflict that cannot be viewed simplistically."

He added, "Israel entered this war without an exit strategy. Tens of thousands of innocent victims have fallen. Regardless of who is to blame, this is becoming an endless series of death and destruction."

While De Wever backs a negotiated peace, he noted that "there is no place" for Hamas in any future agreement. He added, "At the same time, there must be a credible Palestinian Authority, an agreement on territorial boundaries, and security guarantees for Israel."