A scheduled performance by Israeli electronic dance music project Skazi at Belgium’s popular Tomorrowland festival was canceled hours before it was set to take place on Saturday.
“Due to security considerations and our deep commitment to spreading only love and music, my performance at Tomorrowland… has been canceled,” wrote Asher Swissa, who performs as Skazi, on Instagram. “My message has always been and will continue to be: one of unity, joy, and mutual respect.”
Swissa said he was returning to Israel, a day after he arrived in Belgium.
There was no statement from the festival organizers.
Israelis at Tomorrowland were upset to learn that Skazi’s set was canceled.
“It really sucks,” said 24-year-old Gal Elbaz to Channel 12. “It’s very disappointing and [makes me] less willing to come back, knowing that [they] prefer to cancel artists from our nation because of misunderstanding and political pressure.”
The Belgian EDM festival draws many Israelis annually, and it is common to see Israeli flags waved in the large crowds.
While the event is generally welcoming to Israelis, a civilian and an IDF soldier attending the festival were detained this week for questioning by police and released shortly thereafter.
Belgium’s public broadcaster reported, citing the federal prosecutor’s office, that the Israelis were briefly detained after a war crimes complaint was lodged against them by the Hind Rajab Foundation, which has pursued Israeli tourists around the world over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Following the arrests, Skazi said he was determined to perform and that he would wave a large Israeli flag during his set.
Swissa’s planned performance was already causing controversy in Belgium, where self-described “international solidarity” NGO 11.11.11 had slammed Tomorrowland organizers for hosting Skazi, who the group said “normalizes violence.”
Belgian media noted that the DJ has referred to himself in Hebrew media as a “combat DJ,” touting shows he had put on for Israeli soldiers set to enter Gaza after the war there was sparked by the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023.
Skazi wrote on Instagram on Friday, before his set was canceled, that he was aware his performance “has sparked some controversy” in Belgian media.
“I want to be clear: every time I step on stage, my mission is to bring unity,” he wrote. “Let’s allow Tomorrowland to remain what it was always meant to be: a place where people from all walks of life come together.”