Belgium's parliament is set to convene Thursday to discuss a provocative performance staged in central Brussels that simulated the murder of Jewish civilians. The display, part of a so-called "Resistance Festival," featured music glorifying terrorism against Israel and slogans calling for its destruction. Some participants were seen wearing Belgian military uniforms.
The footage, first published by Israel Hayom, triggered swift condemnation. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken called for a formal investigation, stating it was unacceptable for military symbols to be exploited for what he termed "terror propaganda." Francken instructed authorities to determine whether any of those involved had ties to the Belgian armed forces. "If it turns out that military personnel or Defense Ministry staff were involved, there will be consequences," he warned.
Video: Performance glorifying October 7 staged in the heart of Brussels // Video credit: Sam van Rooy
The mayor of the Brussels district of Saint-Gilles also launched an internal and police inquiry, calling the video "disturbing." The performance resembled a reenactment of the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, showing actors in keffiyehs simulating gunfire at unarmed civilians, who lay on the ground pretending to be corpses. The scene was set to chants of "Free Palestine" and "From the river to the sea," against a backdrop of Palestinian flags. At the end, four participants brandished wooden rifles in a victory salute.
Israel's Ambassador to Belgium, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, expressed disbelief in a social media post: "At first I couldn't believe something like this could be filmed in Brussels. But it's real. Here in Brussels. A reenactment of the October 7 massacre. Blood and bodies on the ground. All of it. Organized by none other than the Samidoun organization. How is this happening in Belgium?"
Although the Saint-Gilles municipality initially approved the event citing "freedom of expression," the mayor later said he had cautioned the organizers against overstepping legal boundaries. After viewing the footage, he reversed course, stating, "Several scenes can be interpreted as incitement to violence and glorification of terrorism. Our municipality cannot be a venue for events that incite hatred and undermine the democratic model to which we are deeply committed. Personally, I do not believe such imagery helps the Palestinian cause, which at this time urgently needs a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid."
One of the most outspoken critics was MP Sam Van Rooy of the right-wing Vlaams Belang party, who shared the video on his Facebook page. "The mayor's response is too little, too late," Van Rooy said. "His condemnation is laughable - warning Samidoun not to promote hate or violence is as naive as thinking one can strike a deal with Iran."
Van Rooy criticized Belgium's immigration policy, which he claims enables the influx of radical Islamists unwilling to integrate. He plans to bring the video to Thursday's parliamentary session and urge authorities to address incitement against Jews and the West. Speaking to Israel Hayom, Van Rooy said: "Many Belgians are like the proverbial frog in the pot. At first the warm water feels nice, but by the time it realizes it's boiling, it's too late."
He warned that Belgium is beginning to resemble 1930s Europe: "Our country has become a hub for supporters of extremist Islamist organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood, Samidoun, and the Taliban - groups that should be banned immediately. Many Middle Eastern immigrants believe Muslim extremists' hatred of Jews and the West is justified. This population is growing, and in some electoral districts there are already prominent Muslim politicians affiliated with these extremist movements. While they may not publicly support anti-Israel or antisemitic demonstrations, many quietly enable them because they share those views."
Van Rooy, who also serves on Antwerp's city council, painted a grim picture: "There have been significant antisemitic incidents recently - verbal and physical assaults. In Antwerp, attacks on Jews have become routine and go unpunished. Even when perpetrators are caught, the penalties are laughable. I shudder to think what would happen if a visibly Jewish person had passed through that festival in the city square, where people shouted 'Free Palestine' and 'From the river to the sea,' which calls for Israel's destruction. They likely would have been attacked. If this continues, the 2030s will look like the 1930s. A society where Jews can be assaulted and calls to kill and burn them are made in public without fear of punishment will take us back a hundred years to a dark chapter Europe should never revisit."
