Belgium Took Action. The U.S. Is Still Shielding War Criminals
While Europe begins holding Israeli soldiers accountable for war crimes, U.S. politicians are posing for photos with the war criminal Netanyahu. It's time to end the double standard.
July 25, 2025
In a historic moment for international justice, Belgian authorities arrested and questioned two Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes in Gaza. The arrests took place publicly at a major music festival and followed a formal legal complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network. The charges stem from credible allegations of war crimes committed during Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza.
This move by Belgium wasn’t symbolic. It was the opening of a criminal investigation under the principle of universal jurisdiction. That doctrine holds that some crimes are so egregious they transcend borders, allowing any nation to prosecute perpetrators regardless of where the crimes were committed. Belgium’s actions mark the first time in Europe that Israeli soldiers have been formally arrested and questioned in connection with the Gaza war.
It’s a turning point and it should be a wake-up call.
But here in the United States, our leaders are doing the opposite. While Belgium takes a stand for justice, America’s political class continues to provide cover for the architects of Gaza’s destruction.
A Bipartisan Photo Op With a War Criminal
Just weeks ago, 14 U.S. Senators, half of them Democrats, posed for a smiling photo op with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a man accused by leading human rights organizations and international legal experts of overseeing war crimes. Among the smiling faces were Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, and Adam Schiff.
One of the most telling images was Senator Cory Booker, a man who once spoke out about human rights, awkwardly fading into the background of the photo. It was an act of political cowardice, a metaphor for how too many Democratic leaders now choose silence over justice.
This wasn’t just bad optics. It was a calculated move. A signal to AIPAC and pro-Israel donors that no matter the human cost, they will continue to back Netanyahu. It was also a warning to Palestinians and human rights advocates that the U.S. government remains deeply complicit in the occupation and the atrocities it enables.
The Role of AIPAC in Sustaining Impunity
These senators didn’t just show up for a photo. They’ve accepted millions in campaign contributions from AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group that helps ensure U.S. aid to Israel remains unconditional, no matter how many war crimes are documented.
According to data compiled by watchdogs, those 14 Senators have collectively received more than $15 million from AIPAC over the course of their careers. From Adam Schiff’s $6.2 million haul to Cory Booker’s nearly $900,000, the money trail is clear and so is the moral compromise that follows.
What Belgium’s Arrests Mean
Belgium’s decision to detain and question Israeli soldiers has the potential to ripple across Europe and beyond. It shows that international law isn’t just a set of noble ideals. It’s a framework that can be enforced. It puts Israeli military personnel and political leaders on notice that there are consequences for crimes, even if their government or its allies try to shield them.
If other nations follow Belgium’s lead, Netanyahu’s inner circle may soon face travel restrictions, international warrants, or worse. It’s a crack in the armor of impunity and it’s one that must be widened.
Why Track AIPAC Exists
At Track AIPAC, we are committed to ending the political protection racket that enables war crimes. We expose elected officials who take AIPAC’s money and refuse to hold Israel accountable. We run digital and grassroots campaigns to challenge candidates who toe the AIPAC line. We fight every day to ensure that support for apartheid and occupation comes at a political cost.
Belgium’s breakthrough proves that accountability is possible. But real change will only come when American politicians are forced to answer for their complicity. Voters must demand justice not just abroad, but here at home.
We refuse to accept a political culture where photo ops with war criminals are celebrated and whistleblowers are silenced.
What Comes Next
The pressure is growing. Legal risks for Israeli officials are increasing. Public opinion is shifting. Political cover is cracking.
But the fight isn’t over.
We must make it clear that war crimes cannot be shielded by campaign checks or patriotic slogans. International law must mean something. Palestinian lives matter.
Belgium acted. Now it's time for the United States to face the truth. Accountability cannot wait.
