Pro-Hamas Performance at Brussels Festival Sparks Outrage and Calls for Action

A demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause, the Resistance Festival, which took place last weekend in Bethlehem Square in Saint-Gilles, Brussels region, is causing controversy. At issue is a short excerpt from a performance shared on social media that apparently shows men in fatigues with keffiyehs concealing their faces, carrying sticks representing rifles and walking among bodies lying on the ground, reports La Dernière Heure. A scene glorifying Hamas fighters that allegedly promotes terrorism. Enough to shock many internet users.

This demonstration was not officially authorized, but it was tolerated by the municipality on the condition, among others, of not displaying Hezbollah or Hamas flags and not harming social cohesion. "As with every request for a demonstration, an opinion is requested from the police. The information in our possession did not allow for an a priori ban without jeopardizing freedom of expression. However, given the context, I had warned the organizer against any event that would go beyond the framework of democratic freedom of expression and that would undermine the social cohesion that characterizes our municipality," reacts the mayor of Saint-Gilles, socialist Jean Spinette.

He continues: "In view of these excerpts, these images, I find that this is not the case and that several of them can be interpreted as a call to violence and an apology for terrorism. We will examine with the police authorities the information to be communicated to the public prosecutor’s office to see what action they deem necessary to take regarding such a macabre representation. Our municipality cannot be the place for demonstrations that call for violence and hatred and undermine the democratic model to which we are all attached." And he concludes: "Personally, I don’t think such images serve the Palestinian cause, which currently requires silencing weapons and allowing humanitarian aid to arrive."

For its part, the opposition expresses its indignation. "We denounce a lack of vigilance from the authorities and a certain form of laxity. We defend freedom of expression, but there is a framework and limits to respect. We will question the college about this," reacts, among others, Janusz Linkowski, from the MR opposition in the municipality. These reactions surprise the collectives behind the festival. They insist on the "artistic and allegorical nature of the theatrical representation," in compliance with the conditions set by the municipality. They assure that the scene has no explicit or implicit link to Hamas or Hezbollah, and does not incite hatred in any way.

"The Resistance Festival was organized for the 3rd consecutive year by a coalition of various collectives. During these three days, it’s about celebrating popular liberation struggles from around the world, honoring them, learning collectively," reacts an organizer of the militant demonstration on Monday afternoon. Political discussions, workshops, and musical, theatrical, and poetic performances were on the agenda of the event. She continues: "These representations reflect the positions of the artists who produce them, in the context of the festival (the celebration and teaching of popular liberation struggles). The collectives organizing the festival respect the freedom of expression of the artists, and the messages conveyed do not necessarily reflect the positions of the organizers."

In the wake of this, a second video showing the entire scene was published on social media. However, it gives a different interpretation of the scene.