For the 3rd consecutive year, Brussels holds Samidoun "Resistance Festival" | WATCH

The "Resistance Festival" in Brussels, held from June 6-8, 2025, marked its third consecutive year, organized by the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in collaboration with various Palestinian, Arab, and international organizations.

Held under the slogan “Resistance Continues for 77 Years,” the event drew significant participation from diaspora communities and supporters of the Palestinian cause, focusing on anti-imperialist resistance and Palestinian culture. Activities included a learning collaboration with the School of the Revolution, addressing issues like police violence, fascism, and solidarity with Palestine. The festival involved groups such as the Alliance Juive Antisioniste de Belgique, Alfalasteniyeh, and others.

Israeli Ambassador to Belgium, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, condemned the event, alleging that Samidoun, designated a terrorist organization by Israel in 2021 and banned in Germany in November 2023 for praising the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, organized an exhibit glorifying the massacre.

Samidoun, also known as the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, has been accused by the U.S. and Canada (designated a terrorist entity in October 2024) of acting as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group labeled as terrorist by multiple countries. The organization has faced scrutiny for its role in anti-Israel protests, including a 2024 Vancouver rally where a Canadian flag was burned, and for statements by its leader, Charlotte Kates, praising Hamas actions.

Belgium has not banned Samidoun, unlike Germany, allowing the festival to proceed despite its controversial nature. There are ongoing concerns about Samidoun’s activities in Brussels, with critics like Darya Safai noting its ties to Hamas and the permissiveness of local authorities.