Five family members in Belgium, waiting in despair, are beginning a hunger strike.
On Wednesday, September 23, at 4:30 p.m., they—along with many others in the same situation—will hold a press conference at the House of Compassion/Begijnhof Church in Brussels, Begijnhofplein:
“After months of grueling uncertainty, mortal fear, sleepless nights, weekly protests, writing an open letter, and countless appeals for humanity, we have barely been heard, and there has been hardly any attention paid to the terrible suffering of our families—of our children—who have been trying to survive the genocide in Gaza for far too long. We are not asking for a favor or a privilege, but for the enforcement of human and children’s rights. This is also a call for empathy and solidarity: your support, your voice, can help save lives and reunite torn-apart families. Save our families! Stop silencing our children!’
Hundreds of Belgian-Palestinian citizens, whether holding a residence permit or Belgian nationality, were separated from their families in Gaza as a result of the genocide.
From Belgium, they initiated family reunification proceedings. Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Minister of Asylum and Migration, issued Belgian visas for their family members following a very thorough review by the Immigration Office.
But unlike other European countries (Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France…), our country refuses to evacuate these people from Gaza. With the exception of a few evacuations of seriously injured children, the last evacuation of visa holders dates back to December 2025. On September 11, Maxime Prévot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented the issue to the government’s inner circle. The MR reacted coolly; the N-VA vetoed the proposal and even sought to link the issue to the deportation of people to Afghanistan or to return hubs.
This is not only an unprecedented blockage of legal migration, but also, de facto, a violation of the fundamental human right to family life and to life itself. Hundreds of families, especially children, are being forced to live under terrible conditions for a senselessly and unnecessarily long time. Many fell ill or were injured during that waiting period. Some were murdered.
Belgium can save lives, but the political will is lacking. This government has thus reached a moral and humanitarian low: it is complicit in genocide.
Ludo De Brabander, a Belgian peace activist and spokesperson for the nonprofit organization Vrede, has already confirmed his participation in the press conference.
