Belgian Prosecutor Drops War Crimes Complaint Against Israeli at Tomorrowland
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office has dismissed a war crimes complaint filed against an Israeli national who attended the Tomorrowland music festival in Boom, Belgium, determining that the evidence provided was insufficient to open a formal investigation.
The complaint, filed by the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), alleged that the individual — who served as an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza, between October 2023 and November 2024 — may have committed war crimes including the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure. According to La Libre Belgique, federal prosecutor spokesperson Ann Lukowiak confirmed that “the concrete elements were insufficient to open an investigation.”
The Complaint and the Decision
The HRF accused the Israeli national of participating in the destruction of Palestine Square in Gaza City, as well as the systematic demolition of homes, businesses, schools, and public buildings — including a facility housing deaf children operated by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children. The foundation argued that Belgium’s universal jurisdiction law, which allows Belgian courts to hear cases involving alleged crimes committed outside the country, provided the legal basis for the complaint.
However, the federal prosecutor’s office ruled that the evidence did not meet the threshold required to initiate a criminal investigation. The decision was officially confirmed on July 23, 2026, days after the complaint was filed on July 20, following the first weekend of Tomorrowland’s 20th edition.
Foundation Founder Contests the Ruling
Dyab Abou Jahjah, founder and chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation, strongly contested the prosecutor’s decision. He argued that requiring a high degree of certainty before opening an investigation creates a paradox, as the purpose of a criminal investigation is precisely to gather and verify evidence.
“Requiring, before even opening an investigation, a degree of certainty that is normally only reached during the judicial investigation risks weakening the universal jurisdiction mechanism provided for by Belgian law,” Abou Jahjah told La Libre Belgique. He previously stated that the foundation’s complaint aimed to “oppose the culture of impunity that has protected perpetrators of crimes against Palestinians for decades.”
A Pattern of Legal Actions
This is not the first time the Hind Rajab Foundation has targeted Israeli soldiers at Tomorrowland. In July 2025, the HRF and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) filed a complaint against two Israeli soldiers from the Givati Brigade who were seen waving their brigade’s flag during a set by Israeli DJ duo Vini Vici. Those two individuals were briefly detained and questioned by Belgian federal police before being released, and the case file was subsequently transmitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Since its founding in September 2024 — named after a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza — the HRF claims to have filed more than 90 complaints or legal actions in approximately 30 countries against alleged Israeli soldiers. Most of these actions have been rejected or dismissed.
The Broader Legal Context
Belgium has one of Europe’s most robust universal jurisdiction laws, allowing its courts to hear cases involving alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed anywhere in the world. The law was updated in April 2024 to enable Belgian police to gather evidence of violations more effectively.
The contrasting outcomes between the 2025 and 2026 cases highlight the evidentiary challenges inherent in universal jurisdiction prosecutions. While the 2025 case involved soldiers who had publicly identified themselves and their unit at the festival, the 2026 complaint appears to have lacked the same level of publicly available evidence.
What to Watch For
The dismissal raises questions about the future of HRF’s legal strategy in Belgium. Abou Jahjah has indicated that the foundation may explore other legal avenues, potentially appealing the decision or pursuing cases in other jurisdictions. The case also underscores the ongoing tension between Belgium’s commitment to international justice and the practical challenges of prosecuting alleged war crimes committed abroad.
As the Israel-Gaza conflict continues, the legal battles over accountability are likely to persist — with Tomorrowland, one of the world’s largest music festivals, serving as an unexpected backdrop for these high-stakes legal confrontations.