Israeli soldiers arrested at Tomorrowland, case referred to International Criminal Court

Two Israeli soldiers were arrested at the music festival Tomorrowland and Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office is referring the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for charges of war crimes.

“The International Criminal Court is currently investigating possible serious violations of humanitarian law in the Palestinian territories,” the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.

“This decision was taken in the interests of the proper administration of justice and in accordance with Belgium's international obligations, as provided for in Article 14/10 of the preliminary title of the Code of Criminal Procedure.”

The two soldiers are believed to be members of the Israeli Defence Force’s Givati Brigade and were said to have waved their unit’s flag at the popular music festival on the weekend of 19 and 20 July.

The Hind Rajab Foundation of Dyab Abou Jahjah and the NGO Global Legal Action Network submitted a complaint to the federal prosecutor’s office concerning their presence.

The public prosecutor’s office then asked the police to search for and question the two Israeli soldiers. Following these interviews, the two men were released.

A Belgian diplomat was summoned by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the matter, especially after the soldiers made claims to the Israeli press of being beaten during the arrest.

Israel has also summoned a French diplomat regarding France’s announcement of its intent to recognise the existence of a Palestinian state.

Belgium and 27 other countries recently signed a declaration calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.