BERLIN, Germany — Berlin’s famed Konzerthaus stepped in at short notice to host Israeli conductor Lahav Shani after his invitation to a Belgian festival was rescinded because of the Gaza conflict.

Shani was due to conduct the Munich Philharmonic, his new orchestra, in Ghent next week. However, the Flanders Festival said that his current job as Chief Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic had given them pause.

“Lahav Shani has spoken out in favor of peace and reconciliation several times in the past,” the festival said in a statement. “But in the light of his role as the chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, we are unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude to the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv.”

Israel has vehemently rejected accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza, asserting that its military operation is directed at eliminating the Hamas terror group and rescuing hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, massacre.

The Belgian festival’s decision drew condemnation from German politicians. Germany maintains it has a particular obligation to Israel because of its responsibility for the Holocaust, a position that has come under growing strain due to growing European alarm at the Gaza conflict.

“The rescinding of the invitation to the Munich Philharmonic and Lahav Shani is unacceptable,” wrote German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. “Jews living here must never be exploited for the purpose of criticizing the Israeli government.”

Shani will now conduct the orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra and extracts from Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde at the Konzerthaus on Monday.

“We believe boycotting artists is always the wrong approach,” said Matthias Pees, head of the Berliner Festspiele, who invited Shani. “Shani is a wonderful person and musician. He studied here … He has worked intensively for peace and reconciliation.”

Senior Belgian politicians, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, also criticized the Flanders Festival’s decision.

De Wever said the festival’s decision “has rightfully provoked great consternation and has been characterized as antisemitic.”

“To impose a professional ban on someone solely because of their origin is both reckless and irresponsible,” De Wever wrote on X.

“I deeply regret the festival’s decision, which has inflicted severe damage on the reputation of our country.”

The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip was started by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people and saw another 251 taken hostage.

The dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a result of the war and Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza have fueled widespread public anger in Europe, although the region’s governments have been divided on how to respond.

AFP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.