Belgium launches first-ever EU war crimes probe into Israeli troops

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jul 2025 18:11

Belgian authorities detained and questioned two Israeli soldiers at Tomorrowland over alleged war crimes in Gaza, marking a precedent-setting move under universal jurisdiction.

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People listen to DJs Odymel and Pegassi performing at the Tomorrowland music festival in Boom, Belgium, Friday, July 18, 2025, two days after a huge fire on Wednesday severely damaged the main stage, right (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Belgian federal police detained and interrogated two Israeli soldiers accused of committing war crimes during "Israel's" genocidal campaign in Gaza. The operation was carried out following an urgent legal complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN).

The two suspects were identified at the Tomorrowland music festival in Boom, where they were arrested "with a clear show of force." Belgian authorities later confirmed that both individuals were formally interrogated and released, with the Federal Prosecutor's Office stating that a criminal investigation is now underway.

"This development is a significant step forward," said the Hind Rajab Foundation and GLAN in a joint statement. "It signals that Belgium has recognized its jurisdiction under international law and is treating the allegations with the seriousness they deserve."

Accountability Begins

The organizations stressed that this marks the first time in Europe that Israeli suspects linked to the Gaza war have faced formal arrest and questioning, an unprecedented moment in the broader campaign to hold Israeli forces accountable for violations committed against Palestinians.

"At a time when far too many governments remain silent, this action sends a clear message: credible evidence of international crimes must be met with legal response, not political indifference."

While cautioning that "justice has not been served, not yet," the statement affirmed that "something important has begun."

"To the victims and survivors in Gaza: we see you, we hear you, and we carry your demands for justice forward," the foundation declared, addressing the families and communities devastated by "Israel's" assault.

Justice Breakthrough

The move follows widespread international condemnation of "Israel's" actions in Gaza, where entire neighborhoods have been flattened, medical infrastructure decimated, and thousands of civilians killed, including children like Hind Rajab, the five-year-old Palestinian girl after whom the Foundation is named. Her killing by Israeli forces on January 29, 2024, has become a symbol of the wider brutality inflicted upon Gaza's population.

"To those who believed impunity was permanent: this moment shows that it is not," the statement continued. "And to states watching around the world: universal jurisdiction is not just a principle, it is an obligation."

Describing the arrests as a "breakthrough," the Hind Rajab Foundation and GLAN urged Belgian authorities to pursue the investigation "fully and independently," stressing: "Justice must not stop here, and we are committed to seeing it through."

This marks a rare instance in which Western legal mechanisms have responded to Palestinian demands for justice, offering a glimmer of accountability amid ongoing suffering in Gaza.