Two Israeli Soldiers Arrested in Belgium

Melbourne, July 23 – Belgian federal police on Sunday arrested two Israeli soldiers on charges of committing war crimes in Gaza. The arrests were made following complaints filed by two human rights organizations in the country.

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) stated in a joint release that the two soldiers had traveled to Belgium to attend the Tomorrowland music festival. The case is currently under legal review.

The statement said: “The suspects were identified and arrested by force at the Tomorrowland Festival in the town of Boom.”

Diab Abou Jahjah, director of the HRF, told Middle East Eye:

“This is a significant milestone in the long fight for accountability. For the first time, a European country has exercised universal jurisdiction against Israeli soldiers by arresting them and bringing them in for questioning.”

GLAN’s senior legal counsel, Dearbhla Minogue, who is working with HRF on the case, added:

“Since the beginning of the genocide, this is the most substantial step toward accountability. Law enforcement in Europe has now taken real action by arresting suspects.”

Minogue further noted that the impact of this arrest would likely resonate across Europe and globally.

She stated that the charges against the two soldiers include the use of human shields and carrying out unnecessary destruction.

Evidence used in the case reportedly includes social media posts made by the accused themselves.

“One of them posted a video showing homes being demolished in Gaza and Lebanon,” said Minogue.
“The other was photographed standing in front of a Palestinian being used as a human shield by his unit.”

Belgium’s Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that under a new provision—Article 14/10 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, effective from April 28, 2024—the Belgian judiciary may have jurisdiction to prosecute international crimes. This article is based on the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1984 Convention Against Torture, and allows prosecution for crimes committed abroad.

HRF is a Brussels-based NGO that has been working toward international legal accountability for Israeli war crimes since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Founder Diab Abou Jahjah stated that the organization possesses over 8,000 pieces of evidence against Israeli soldiers.

HRF and GLAN have filed war crimes cases before in Europe and Latin America, but this marks the first time arrests have resulted from their efforts.

The arrests coincided with a speech by Belgian King Philippe, who on Sunday described the situation in Gaza as “a disgrace to humanity.” He added that Belgium fully supports the UN’s call for an “immediate end to this unbearable crisis.”