Starmer condemns 'death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury as Kneecap also investigated

LAST UPDATE | 21 hrs ago

UK PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has added his voice to those condemning a British punk-rap group for anti-Israel remarks at the Glastonbury music festival, an incident that has already sparked a police inquiry.

Bob Vylan led crowds in chants of “Death, death to the IDF”, a reference to the acronym for the Israeli military, during their set on Saturday.

British police officers are also examining comments by the Irish rap trio Kneecap.

Starmer told The Telegraph today that “there is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.”

“I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence,” he added.

“The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast,” he said, referring to the country’s national broadcaster.

The BBC cut its coverage from the West Holts stage briefly before Kneecap was set to perform to “ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines” – later confirming that the gig would be shown on the iPlayer.

Kneecap, an outspoken rap group from Belfast who have been criticised for their views on Israel’s war in Gaza, was the only day-time act not broadcast live yesterday. Performing before them was rap punk band Bob Vylan.

Frontman Bobby Vylan led chants of “Free, Free Palestine” and “Death, Death to the IDF”. A BBC spokesperson has since said that some of the set was “deeply offensive”. 

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Kneecap then followed, opening their set with a film reel of news clips featuring politicians and TV personality Sharon Osbourne calling for the group’s gig to be cancelled by the festival.

The band has been in the headlines after its member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court this month.

He is charged with allegedly displaying a flag of the proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a concert in November. Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail to appear before a judge again in August. 

In reference to his bandmate’s upcoming court date, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who performs under the name Móglaí Bap, said they would “start a riot outside the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.”

In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.

“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”

Britain’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also spoke to BBC’s director general about Bob Vylan’s performance. A spokesperson later issued a condemnation of the performance.

Glastonbury Festival said it is “appalled” by the actions of rap punk duo Bob Vylan on stage. They claimed that their chants ‘Death to the IDF’, referring to the Israeli military who has been criticised for alleged war crimes in Gaza, had “crossed a line”.

Kneecap packed out the West Holts stage at the Glastonbury Festival, leading to event organisers telling festival-goers to avoid the area.

In a brief post to social media, the music festival said: “No access to West Holts. Please head to another area of the site – thank you.”

Ó hAnnaidh wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ Ó Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Próvaí, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava.

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