Hundreds of followers chanted ‘free Palestine’ and waved Palestinian flags because the Irish trio carried out within the UK.
Irish-language rap group Kneecap has carried out on the Glastonbury Pageant in entrance of tens of 1000’s of followers chanting “Free Palestine”, defying United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer who mentioned he didn’t suppose it was “acceptable” for the band to look.
The group’s Liam O’Hanna on Saturday additionally gave a “shout-out” to Palestine Motion Group, which UK Inside Minister Yvette Cooper introduced final week would turn into a banned group beneath the Terrorism Act of 2000.
“The prime minister of your nation, not mine, mentioned he didn’t need us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer,” mentioned O’Hanna, who appeared on stage carrying his trademark Palestinian keffiyeh in entrance of the capability crowd, together with many individuals waving Palestinian flags.
“This case will be fairly traumatic nevertheless it’s minimal in comparison with what the Palestinian individuals are [facing],” O’Hanna, who performs beneath the identify Mo Chara, added, referring to the backlash the band has confronted for its outspoken help of Palestinians in Gaza.
He’s going through costs beneath the British Terrorism Act of supporting a proscribed organisation for allegedly waving a flag of Lebanon’s Hezbollah armed group at a live performance in London in November final yr.
O’Hanna has mentioned he picked up a flag that was thrown onto the stage with out realizing what it represented.
The rapper is on unconditional bail earlier than an additional court docket listening to in August.
“Glastonbury, I’m a free man!” he shouted because the trio took to the stage at Glastonbury’s West Holts discipline, which holds about 30,000 individuals.
The trio additionally thanked pageant organisers Michael and Emily Eavis for resisting strain to cancel their look, together with from Starmer.
A number of Kneecap live shows have been cancelled for the reason that band’s efficiency on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Pageant in California in April, the place they accused Israel of committing genocide towards the Palestinians, enabled by america authorities.
A minimum of 56,412 Palestinians have been killed and 133,054 wounded in Israel’s struggle on Gaza, in line with Gaza’s Ministry of Well being.
Eire’s individuals and authorities have been a number of the most outspoken critics of the struggle, in addition to Israel’s deliberate hunger of Gaza’s inhabitants, which many individuals see as having parallels to the English occupation of Eire.
The BBC, which broadcasts dozens of Glastonbury performances, didn’t present Kneecap’s set dwell, however mentioned it deliberate to make it accessible on-line later.
The broadcaster mentioned it might not be re-airing the dwell efficiency of British rap punk duo Bob Vylan who appeared on stage earlier than Kneecap and led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Loss of life, dying to the IDF [Israeli army]”.
A BBC spokesperson mentioned the feedback had been “deeply offensive”, and that they’d not be accessible to rewatch on BBC iPlayer.
The BBC additionally reported that UK Tradition Minister Lisa Nandy spoke to the BBC director basic, Tim Davie, searching for an “pressing rationalization” after the chants had been aired dwell.
In response to the BBC, Avon and Somerset Police additionally mentioned that they’d be reviewing footage of each Kneecap and Bob Vylan’s units to “decide whether or not any offences might have been dedicated that may require a felony investigation”.
The bands had been amongst about 4,000 performers throughout 120 levels to look at this yr’s pageant, which additionally featured headliners together with Neil Younger, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, Busta Rhymes, Olivia Rodrigo and Doechii, in addition to a shock look by Britpop band Pulp.