Belgian King Philippe Calls Gaza Crisis Disgrace Humanity Urges European Leadership

Belgium's King Philippe has delivered a strong condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing the ongoing situation as "a disgrace to humanity" and calling for immediate action to end the violence and blockade. In his televised address on the eve of Belgium's National Day, the King aligned with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in demanding an end to the suffering of civilians, emphasizing that it is a matter of basic human dignity rather than politics. He warned that the erosion of international law, evidenced by the conflict and the inadequate international response, threatens global stability and unpredictability. King Philippe urged Europe to take stronger leadership, upholding values of democracy, justice, and rule of law, to serve as a credible alternative to brutal power struggles worldwide. His remarks, more forceful than those of Belgium's federal government, also highlighted the moral duty of European governments to confront violations of international law and criticized the EU's silence and lack of concrete measures amid allegations of war crimes. The King’s speech coincided with reports of mounting civilian casualties and legal actions in Belgium aimed at restricting military exports to Israel, reflecting growing domestic and regional tensions over the conflict.