Israeli Ambassador Urges Belgium to Check Report of Hamas Condolence Gatherings

Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, David Saranga, called on Belgian authorities on Saturday, November 14, to verify a report about condolence gatherings for Hamas members in Antwerp and investigate possible links to the terrorist organization. His public request followed a social-media allegation posted the previous day about gatherings in the Belgian city. Saranga raised the allegation as a question and expressed confidence that Belgian authorities would check the report. He wrote: “Europe must never become a safe haven for terrorist networks.” Israel’s embassy in Belgium echoed his request in its own statement shortly afterward, calling for verification of the report and investigation of any Hamas connections. Hamas was established in 1987 under Sheikh Ahmad Yassin as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to an Israeli military overview published on October 16, 2023. The overview identifies its armed wing as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and describes its rocket attacks, shootings and suicide bombings, as well as the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel, massacre and abductions. It lists Israel, the United States, the European Union, Britain, Canada, Australia and Japan among those recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization.