Two Israeli citizens were briefly detained and questioned by Belgian police while attending the Tomorrowland festival, according to reports citing the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office. The action followed a complaint lodged by the Hind Rajab Foundation.
In its complaint, the anti-Israel organisation alleged that the two individuals were “responsible for grave international crimes, including war crimes and genocide” in the Gaza Strip.
The federal prosecutor’s office decided to detain the Israelis after reviewing the Hind Rajab Foundation’s submission and determining that it had jurisdiction to do so under a 2024 amendment to the Belgian Code of Criminal Procedure.
The men were detained by police, questioned, and subsequently released, according to the report. The federal prosecutor’s office has declined to provide further information at this time.
One of the two men alleged that they were subjected to physical violence during their detention.
“The officers hit us—we received blows to the face,” one of the unnamed individuals told Channel 12 News. “They took us to a secret police station within the compound.”
The European Jewish Congress issued a statement condemning the incident:
“We strongly condemn the unfounded and unlawful questioning of two Israeli citizens at the Tomorrowland festival.
The complaint that led to their questioning was initiated by an organisation linked to an individual known for his open support of Hezbollah and Hamas, and who has a long record of antisemitic and anti-Israeli statements.
It is outrageous that such claims were given any degree of legitimacy by the authorities. Targeted campaigns against Israeli citizens are unacceptable—especially in a space like Tomorrowland, which is meant to celebrate diversity, unity, and peaceful coexistence.
We call on the relevant authorities to review this incident with the utmost seriousness and ensure that such discriminatory and politically motivated actions do not happen again.”
