An Israeli electronic DJ nixed a planned performance at Belgium’s Tomorrowland festival Saturday, bowing out after “intense” pressure from a pro-Palestinian group.
“Due to security considerations and our deep commitment to spreading only love and music, my performance at Tomorrowland scheduled for Today, July 26th has been cancelled,” DJ Skazi wrote on social media just hours before he planned to take the stage.
Asher Swissa, who performs as Skazi, flew back to Israel just one day after arriving in Belgium, and blamed a pro-Palestinian group for the decision to pull the plug on his set.
“There was a pro-Palestinian organization that was really on our backs, doing everything to stop it from happening,” he told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport, according to Israeli media.
“It was all very intense and threatening.”
The pressure came from Belgian pro-Palestinian group 11.11.11.
“His performances are part of a propaganda campaign that condones violence against Palestinians,” the group said on social media, urging festival organizers to nix the set, saying the artist calls himself “combat DJ.”
Swissa had previously performed for IDF soldiers in Gaza after Hamas’ terror attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Tomorrowland’s organizers indicated the decision to abort the set wasn’t theirs.
“We respect and appreciate Skazi’s decision to withdraw at this time,” organizers said in a statement.
“We maintain deep respect for Skazi’s musical journey and hope to hear his music on one of our stages again in the future.”
Swissa had been a mainstay at the wildly popular music festival — the largest EDM gathering in the world — for the past 14 years.
This year’s festival, which concludes on Sunday, was expected to draw a crowd of 400,000 over two weekends.
