Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan says it is being focused for talking up about Gaza at Glastonbury

LONDON — Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday rejected claims of antisemitism over onstage feedback on the Glastonbury Pageant that triggered a police investigation and sparked criticism from politicians, the BBC and competition organizers.

The band stated in an announcement that it was being “focused for talking up” in regards to the struggle in Gaza.

Police are investigating whether or not a criminal offense was dedicated when frontman Bob Vylan led the viewers in chants of “Loss of life to the IDF” — the Israel Protection Forces — in the course of the band’s set on the competition in southwest England on Saturday.

The British authorities referred to as the chants “appalling hate speech” and the BBC stated it regretted livestreaming the “antisemitic sentiments.” U.S. authorities revoked the musicians’ visas.

Israel’s struggle towards Hamas in Gaza has infected tensions all over the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in lots of capitals and on school campuses. Israel and a few supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, whereas critics say Israel makes use of such descriptions to silence opponents.

In an announcement on Instagram, Bob Vylan stated: “We aren’t for the demise of jews, arabs or some other race or group of individuals. We’re for the dismantling of a violent army machine. … A machine that has destroyed a lot of Gaza.”

Alleging that “we’re a distraction from the story,” the duo added: “We’re being focused for talking up.”

The BBC is beneath strain to elucidate why it didn’t reduce the feed of the efficiency after the anti-IDF chants. Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis stated “the airing of vile Jew-hatred” by the BBC was a second of “nationwide disgrace.”

“It ought to bother all first rate those who now, one want solely sofa their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for atypical individuals to not solely miss out on it for what it’s, but in addition to cheer it, chant it and have a good time it,” he wrote on X.

Avon and Somerset Police stated it’s investigating Bob Vylan’s efficiency, together with that by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian stance has additionally attracted controversy. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged beneath Britain’s Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed group for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a live performance in London final yr.

Because the struggle started in October 2023 with a Hamas assault on Israel that killed some 1,200 individuals, Israel has killed greater than 56,000 individuals in Gaza, in line with the well being ministry within the Hamas-run territory.