Graffiti on Kennedytunnel Demands Removal of Israeli Flag

A massive graffiti protest message appeared overnight above the Kennedytunnel in Antwerp, demanding the removal of the Israeli flag currently flying at the city’s historic City Hall. The message, reading “Haal die vlag weg” (“Remove that flag”) alongside an Israeli flag crossed out in red, marks the most visible escalation yet in a controversy that has gripped the city for two weeks.

The Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) has announced it will remove the graffiti as soon as possible, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. No arrests have been reported in connection with the vandalism.

The Flag Controversy

The Israeli flag has flown at Antwerp City Hall since June 10 as part of the annual tourist season protocol, which sees the flags of all countries with diplomatic representation in the city raised alongside one another. The practice, defended by Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA), follows what she describes as “a neutral protocol, in line with the diplomatic relations of the federal government,” as VRT NWS reported.

However, the flag’s presence has sparked immediate backlash. Coalition partner Vooruit, a social-democratic party, has opposed the flag from the outset. Schepen Karim Bachar called it “a bad signal,” citing human rights concerns. Opposition parties Groen and PVDA have submitted motions to remove the flag, with a city council vote expected at the end of June.

Escalating Protests

The Kennedytunnel graffiti is the fourth incident in a rapidly escalating protest pattern:

June 10: Approximately 15 pro-Palestinian activists protested at the Grote Markt as the flag was raised under police escort. Two activists were arrested and others received GAS fines.
June 15: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian stickers were plastered overnight on the City Hall, the Brabo Fountain, and surrounding street furniture. Two suspects were identified and face fines and cleanup costs, HLN reported.
June 15 (evening): A protest organized by the Antwerp Coalition for Palestine drew hundreds of demonstrators.
June 16-17 (overnight): The giant graffiti message appeared above the Kennedytunnel, visible to thousands of commuters heading toward Ghent.

Political Divisions

The controversy has exposed deep political fractures within Antwerp’s city government. The N-VA-led administration maintains that the flag protocol is neutral and apolitical, but critics point to the removal of the Russian flag following the invasion of Ukraine as evidence of political discretion.

“Mayor van Doesburg hides behind the flag protocol, but that’s nonsense,” Peter Mertens (PVDA) told VRT NWS. “The Russian flag hasn’t hung there since the start of the war in Ukraine either.”

Groen faction leader Bogdan Vanden Berghe has proposed a new rule: “No flag at city hall of a country about which the International Court of Justice has established serious violations of international law.”

The issue places coalition partner Vooruit in a difficult position, opposing its own coalition partner N-VA on a matter of public symbolism. Meanwhile, far-right opposition party Vlaams Belang supports keeping the flag, creating an unusual political alignment.

Historical Context

This is not the first time the Israeli flag has sparked controversy in Antwerp. In June 2025, a similar dispute unfolded when the flag was raised, leading to protests, the temporary removal of the flag by unknown persons, and a city council vote that ultimately kept it in place. As Knack reported at the time, the matter was considered “case closed” — until this year’s renewal.

What’s Next

The upcoming city council vote at the end of June will be decisive. With N-VA relying on support from Vlaams Belang to maintain the flag’s presence, and opposition parties pushing for removal, the outcome remains uncertain. The AWV will remove the Kennedytunnel graffiti at public expense, and police continue to investigate the perpetrators.

The controversy illustrates how international conflicts increasingly manifest in local European politics, with Antwerp’s large Jewish and Muslim communities caught in the middle of a debate that shows no signs of resolution.