Belgium’s ongoing evacuation of people from the Gaza Strip has triggered a political storm after footage emerged of two young boys arriving at Ostend Airport wearing black sweatshirts printed with large images of an M16 rifle
The pair was among 75 Palestinians evacuated at the end of October, part of a wider humanitarian operation that has brought around 850 people to Belgium since 2023.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over screening procedures for arrivals from conflict zones.
According to media reports, clothing featuring the M16 rifle—used in a number of deadly attacks against Israeli civilians—has become a widespread fashion trend in several Palestinian cities. Shops in Ramallah, Jenin, and elsewhere have reportedly been selling such items for months, with some parents buying them for their sons.