British officials are currently examining remarks made by the Irish rap group Kneecap, which has been vocally critical of Israel and its ongoing military actions against the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
A British punk-rap group encountered increasing backlash on Sunday for incorporating anti-Israel remarks during the Glastonbury festival, which led to a police inquiry.
During their performance on Saturday, Bob Vylan encouraged the audience to chant, “Death, death to the IDF,” referencing the acronym for the Israeli military.
British officials are also looking into comments made by the Irish rap group Kneecap, known for their strong criticism of Israel and its ongoing military actions against the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
One member of Kneecap donned a T-shirt supporting the Palestine Action Group, which is set to be banned under UK terrorism laws.
The UK government has “strongly condemned” the remarks made by Bob Vylan, which event organizers stated had “definitely crossed a line.”
“We are urgently reminding all parties involved in the festival’s production that there is no tolerance for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence at Glastonbury,” the festival declared in a statement.
Avon and Somerset police announced on Saturday that they would review video evidence “to ascertain whether any offenses may have occurred that would necessitate a criminal investigation.”
‘Life is sacred’
The chants regarding Israel’s military, which were denounced by the Israeli embassy in London, were led by Bobby Vylan, the frontman of Bob Vylan.
These chants were broadcast live on the BBC, which provides coverage of the UK’s most popular music festival.
“I found it appalling, to be honest,” remarked UK minister Wes Streeting regarding the chants, adding that “all life is sacred.”
“I believe the BBC and Glastonbury need to address how such a spectacle was displayed on our screens,” he told Sky News.
The Israeli embassy issued a statement late Saturday expressing that it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.”
However, Streeting, Labour’s health secretary, also criticized the embassy, urging it to “get your own house in order.”
“I believe the Israeli embassy raises a significant issue. I wish they would take the violence perpetrated by their own citizens against Palestinians more seriously,” he remarked, referencing settler violence in the West Bank.
A representative from the BBC stated that Vylan’s remarks were “profoundly offensive” and that the broadcaster had “no intentions” of making the performance accessible on its on-demand platform.
‘A joke’
Kneecap, who have garnered attention in recent months for their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel views, incited the audience to chant insults directed at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Starmer, along with other politicians, had asserted that the band should refrain from performing after its member Liam O’Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, faced charges related to terrorism.
Earlier this month, he appeared in court, accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while proclaiming “Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah” following the resurfacing of a video from a London concert last year.
The Iran-supported Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas are prohibited in the UK, and it is illegal to express support for them.
O’Hanna has refuted the allegations and informed the Guardian newspaper in an interview published on Friday that “it was merely a joke – we were portraying characters.”
Kneecap frequently leads audiences in chants of “Free Palestine” during their performances. Their supporters admire them for their anti-establishment position and critique of British imperialism, while their opponents label them as extremists.
The group issued an apology this year after a video from 2023 appeared to show one of the singers calling for the execution of British Conservative lawmakers.
Israel initiated a military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Islamist militant group that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli official statistics.
Israel’s retaliatory military actions have claimed the lives of at least 56,412 individuals in Gaza, also primarily civilians, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-controlled territory. The United Nations
