Belgium’s Arrest of IDF Soldiers Could Be a Watershed Moment
Belgium’s detention of Israeli soldiers over alleged war crimes in Gaza has set a historic precedent for holding Israel to account for its war crimes. And it’s a sign that the tide is turning against Israel.
Israel Defense Forces soldiers in the West Bank on July 19, 2025. (Mamoun Wazwaz / Anadolu via Getty Images)
For the first time, Israeli soldiers were detained and questioned in Europe over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
After nearly ten months of tracking Israeli soldiers abroad, the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) have scored a symbolic breakthrough: the arrest and interrogation of two Israeli soldiers in Belgium on war crimes allegations related to the war in Gaza.
The soldiers were released after being questioned as part of the investigation. However, on July 30, Belgian prosecutors decided to refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) following a formal inquiry.
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