On Monday, the eve of Belgium’s National Day, King Philippe delivered a rare and strongly worded address condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling for an immediate end to the violence. A statement he could have been arrested and deported for under the current US government if he were still a student at Stanford University
“I join all those who denounce the grave humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent civilians – trapped in their enclave – are dying of hunger and perishing under the bombs. The current situation has gone on far too long. This is a disgrace to humanity,” the Belgian monarch said.
“We support the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to put an end to this unbearable crisis immediately,” he added.
Foreign media noted that this is the king’s strongest statement yet on the conflict. Previous royal remarks on the Middle East and Israel’s actions were far more cautious.
Belgium marks its National Day on July 21, commemorating the day in 1831 when King Leopold I took the oath and became the country’s first monarch, a year after Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands.
In the political domain, the King’s action does not consist in exercising personal power without the cooperation of ministers. The King interacts with players in the political arena by asking questions, expressing opinions, making suggestions, warning, and encouraging.
His perspective is one of continuity, long-term objectives, and major projects that the country and the State must engage in. The King exercises his influence through dialogue with all those involved in the political decision-making process.
This enables the King to meet regularly with political leaders and representatives of a wide variety of sectors. These contacts, the content of which remains confidential, are a valuable source of information for him and a means by which he can exert his influence.
The King is the first Crown Prince not to have received a private education, but rather to have followed a classical and bilingual educational path in primary and secondary schools in Belgium. In 1978, as Prince Philippe, he began his university studies at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium. Interested in aerospace since childhood, he chose to join the Air Force, where he qualified as a fighter pilot. He completed his military training with a certification as a parachutist and a commando.
He then continued his studies abroad. After a trimester at Oxford University in the United Kingdom and two years at Stanford University in the United States, he obtained a master’s in Political Science.
The importance and impact of this political action by the King vary, depending on the circumstances and the pace of public life. It is and must remain constant. However, there are times when the role of the King, while remaining covered by ministerial responsibility, is perceived much more clearly, such as when a government is being formed.
The Presidents of the governments of the Regions and Communities take the oath before the King. He also grants audiences to members of the government and parliament of the Regions and Communities.
With this Royal outcry that shakes the silence, King Philippe of Belgium has broken the diplomatic mold, declaring:
“The situation in Gaza is a disgrace to all of humanity.”
“I strongly denounce the grave humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and under bombardment, while being trapped in their enclaves.
This is not just a diplomatic statement — it is a bold moral stance from a monarch who chose to side with truth, humanity, and justice.
This royal statement may open the door for international legal and moral accountability. It sounds the alarm for all those complicit — in silence or in action — with genocide and the deliberate starvation of a civilian population.
Yesterday, Belgian police questioned two members of the Israeli army who were attending a music festival in Belgium over allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Brussels said in a statement Monday.
In a statement to The Associated Press, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said an Israeli citizen and an Israeli soldier who were on vacation in Belgium “were taken in yesterday for interrogation and were released shortly afterward.” It said Israeli authorities “dealt with this issue and are in touch with the two.”
Under international humanitarian law, what’s happening in Gaza amounts to
