Belgian Authorities Arrest Israeli Soldiers at Tomorrowland Over Gaza War Crimes Amid UK Training and Spy Flights Criticism

Belgian authorities have arrested and questioned two Israeli soldiers at the Tomorrowland music festival in July over alleged war crimes linked to the Gaza conflict, marking the first such incident in Europe. This development is seen as a potential turning point in the global pursuit of accountability for actions during the Gaza conflict. The Hind Rajab Foundation, along with other legal groups, has been actively campaigning for the arrest of Israeli military personnel accused of war crimes, utilizing social media footage from traveling soldiers as evidence. These efforts have led to some Israeli individuals fleeing various countries. Meanwhile, the UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced criticism for its continued military cooperation with Israel, including training Israeli soldiers on British soil and conducting spy flights over Gaza through private contractors, which critics say aims to maintain plausible deniability while supporting Israeli military actions. The tightening legal scrutiny on Israeli soldiers abroad reflects increasing international efforts to address alleged violations during the Gaza conflict.