UK Police Launch Probe After Controversial Anti-Israel Chants Rock Glastonbury Stage

British police are currently assessing video footage and comments made by rap punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish hip hop trio Kneecap during their performances at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, following widespread condemnation.

During his Saturday set on the West Holts Stage, rapper Bobby Vylan led crowds in chants of “Free, free Palestine,” followed by “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).” The performance also featured a screen displaying a message highlighting the UN’s classification of the situation as ‘genocide’ versus the BBC’s ‘conflict’ framing. Prime Minister Keir Starmer swiftly condemned Vylan’s chants as “appalling hate speech,” adding that Kneecap and any other performers inciting violence should not be given a platform.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK expressed deep disturbance over the “inflammatory and hateful” rhetoric, warning that such chants normalize extremist language. Glastonbury Festival organizers themselves stated they were “appalled” by Vylan’s remarks, asserting that the chants “very much crossed a line” and reminding all involved that there is “no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.” The BBC, which streamed Vylan’s set live, described the comments as “deeply offensive” and confirmed the performance would not be available on demand.

Irish-language hip hop trio Kneecap also drew attention, with band member Liam O’Hanna (Mo Chara) facing a terrorism charge, which he denies, related to allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 London gig. Despite being vocal critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Kneecap has previously denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah. During their Glastonbury set, Mo Chara highlighted the stress of recent events, contrasting it with the plight of the Palestinian people, while fellow rapper Móglaí Bap openly defied Starmer’s earlier comments about the band’s suitability to perform. Police in Somerset confirmed they are reviewing video evidence to determine if any offenses warrant a criminal investigation.

In a notable development, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized Vylan’s performance but also urged the Israeli embassy to “get your own house in order” concerning settler violence in the West Bank, which has surged recently.

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