Israeli DJ Skazi, who contributed to IDF propoganda video, has set cancelled at Tomorrowland.
Tomorrowland was already dealing with a major setback — a massive fire had destroyed its main stage just two days before the festival kicked off. But now problems continue.
On Saturday, July 26th, Israeli DJ Skazi announced that his set, scheduled for later that day, was cancelled. The news dropped via a Facebook post, where he cited “security considerations” and a commitment to “spreading only love and music.” He added, “My priority is to ensure a safe and positive atmosphere for everyone involved. My message has always been — and will continue to be — one of unity, joy and mutual respect.”
But it doesn’t sound like Skazi is all about unity. A report from Belgian newspaper De Morgen revealed that Skazi, real name Asher Swissa, had recently toured Israeli military bases near Gaza, known as the “Gaza envelope.” He also produced music for an IDF propaganda video that included the line, “We will return to dance on the ruins of your houses in Gaza.”
The same report noted that Swissa once called himself a “combat DJ” and had even dedicated his 2023 Tomorrowland performance to Israeli soldiers, something that directly violates Tomorrowland’s ban on political statements during sets.
Despite the uproar, Tomorrowland kept their official response diluted. Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told Belga News Agency that they respected Skazi’s decision to withdraw. “At Tomorrowland, we’re fully committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for everyone,” she said. “That’s always been our focus. We continue to respect Skazi’s musical journey and hope to hear his music on one of our stages again in the future.”
Adding more fuel to the fire, two Israeli soldiers were briefly detained in Belgium the same weekend while attending the festival. They were questioned over accusations of war crimes in Gaza, further amplifying the tension around Skazi’s appearance.
Still, the festival carried on. Around 400,000 attendees flocked to the town of Boom, near Antwerp, for two weekends of music — even as politics, controversy, and literal flames tried to shake the grounds.
