Belgium refers war crimes cases against two Israeli soldiers to ICC
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Belgium's decision is in line with the country's international obligations, according to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office's statement.
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Mural of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl murdered by the Israeli occupation army in Gaza (Hind Rajab Foundation)
Belgian authorities have referred war crimes complaints filed against two Israeli occupation soldiers to the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a precedent-setting case in Europe. The decision, announced by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office on July 30, follows complaints filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) earlier in July.
The legal action stems from the soldiers’ presence at the Tomorrowland music festival in Boom, Belgium, where they were identified as members of the Israeli Givati Brigade. They had reportedly been waving their unit's flag during a performance, drawing the attention of human rights activists.
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Arrest and interrogation of the Israeli soldiers
On July 21, Belgian federal police arrested the two soldiers, acting on complaints submitted just days prior, with the soldiers being questioned before being released. This marked the first instance in Europe of Israeli suspects being formally detained and interrogated over war crimes allegations in Gaza.
The arrests were made possible by Belgium’s Article 14/10 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, enacted in April 2024. This law grants Belgium universal jurisdiction over international crimes, including those committed outside its territory, under treaties like the Geneva Conventions and the UN Convention Against Torture.
The Hind Rajab Foundation accused the soldiers of participating in serious crimes, including genocide, arbitrary detention, torture, and the use of human shields. Evidence included social media posts allegedly showing the soldiers destroying property and posing next to a Palestinian civilian used as a shield.
Global legal actions against 'Israel'
The referral to the ICC was made "in the interest of the proper administration of justice and in accordance with Belgium's international obligations." The ICC is already investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian territories.
Last November, the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant. "Israel" also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.
Human rights organizations, including Israeli ones like B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-"Israel", have accused the regime of genocide, citing the systematic destruction of Palestinian society and its healthcare infrastructure.
Diplomatic fallout
The case has led to increased diplomatic tensions between Belgium and "Israel". The latter summoned a Belgian diplomat to protest the arrests, while Belgium’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting but declined to disclose further details.
Adding to the pressure, Belgian King Philippe delivered a rare public rebuke, calling the situation in Gaza "a disgrace to all of humanity."
Current status, future implications
The case files have now been formally transferred to the ICC. While the soldiers were released after questioning, their current whereabouts remain unknown. The Hind Rajab Foundation continues to urge the ICC to act swiftly and issue arrest warrants.
🚨🚨Breaking– The Two Israeli war Crimimals Who Were Arrested In Belgium Are Now Located in Amsterdam Netherlands
— The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) July 24, 2025
The #HindRajabFoundation, in collaboration with #GLAN, has filed an urgent criminal complaint with the Dutch authorities calling for their immediate arrest.
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This unprecedented case may serve as a catalyst for broader accountability efforts in Europe. Legal experts suggest it could encourage other nations to adopt similar measures under universal jurisdiction principles.
The Hind Rajab Foundation's campaign for justice
The Hind Rajab Foundation, named after the six-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire in Gaza City, is at the forefront of global efforts to hold Israeli military personnel accountable for war crimes. Since its formation in 2024, the organization has filed dozens of legal complaints in over ten countries, used social media and geolocation data to identify Israeli soldiers involved in alleged war crimes, targeted both low-level and high-ranking military personnel, and submitted a complaint to the ICC against 1,000 Israeli soldiers.
