The Israeli Reservists Generation of Victory organization said that it will provide the two IDF Givati Brigade soldiers, who were arrested in Belgium at the request of the pro-Palestinian organization Hind Rajab Foundation, with international legal aid in a Monday statement.  

The soldiers, who attended the Tomorrowland music festival, were alleged to have participated in war crimes, according to HRF. The legal complaint was filed by HRF and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN).

“This is a serious incident that requires an immediate response from the State of Israel, including considering diplomatic measures against the Belgian ambassador,” the organization’s statement reads. 

A result of toxic discourse, disgraceful statements 

The organization called for all those responsible for the situation to be held accountable, adding that it was a direct result of the “toxic media discourse and disgraceful statements by [Democrats party chair] Yair Golan, [former deputy prime minister] Moshe ‘Bogie’ Ya’alon, and former prisoner [prime minister] Ehud Olmert.”

Ya’alon stirred controversy in an interview with Lucy Aharish on DemocratTV in late November when he said, “We are being dragged into annexation and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip.”