Two Israeli soldiers were briefly detained and questioned by Belgian authorities over alleged war crimes in Gaza, marking a rare application of international law amid growing scrutiny of military operations in the region. The arrests took place over the weekend at the Tomorrowland music festival in Boom, near Antwerp, following a legal complaint submitted by human rights groups.

Gaza

Tomorrowland

Antwerp

According to the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the soldiers were taken into custody based on an active investigation invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction—a legal doctrine that allows states to investigate and prosecute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, even when committed outside their borders.

Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office

Universal jurisdiction

International humanitarian law

The men were reportedly serving members of the Israel Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade, though officials declined to specify their names or ranks. Belgian police carried out the arrests on-site at the festival after confirming the soldiers’ identities. Following interrogation, the two men were released pending further investigation.

Israel Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade

The legal complaint that prompted their detention was filed in Belgium earlier this year by the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), which allege that the soldiers were involved in violations of international humanitarian law during recent operations in Gaza. The groups cited multiple incidents including attacks on civilian populations, forced displacement, and destruction of infrastructure.

Hind Rajab Foundation

Global Legal Action Network

International humanitarian law

“This marks a turning point in the fight for accountability,” said a spokesperson for GLAN, emphasizing what they described as a growing reliance on universal jurisdiction for redress. The Hind Rajab Foundation stated that it has compiled more than 8,000 pieces of documentation related to military activity in Gaza since October 2023, including testimonies and visual evidence intended to support their claims.

GLAN

Universal jurisdiction

Hind Rajab Foundation

Belgium’s application of universal jurisdiction in this case echoes similar efforts unfolding elsewhere. Canadian authorities are currently undertaking their own review of alleged war crimes under domestic legislation, and legal action remains active at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has accused Israel of genocide in a case still before the court.

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International Court of Justice

South Africa

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While advocates view the Belgian case as a step toward accountability, reactions have been mixed. The European Jewish Association called the arrests unsettling, suggesting they reflect “a disturbing double standard” in how international law is enforced. “At a time when other nations are involved in military conflicts, the focus on Israeli soldiers raises important questions,” said the group in a statement.

European Jewish Association

International law

No charges have yet been filed, and Belgian prosecutors emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages. Officials did not disclose whether further detentions are expected in connection with the case but confirmed that evidence gathering is ongoing.

Legal experts note that, although rare, such instances of post-deployment arrest may become more common as universal jurisdiction is increasingly invoked by national courts in the absence of broader international consensus.

Universal jurisdiction

For now, the release of the two Israeli soldiers does not signal the end of proceedings. As the investigation unfolds, the case will serve as a legal test—and potentially a precedent—for how European courts engage with complex allegations emerging from Gaza.