Irish rap group Kneecap gave a powerful and politically charged performance at the Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, using their set to express unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, despite growing political pressure and attempts at censorship.
Their appearance followed recent legal scrutiny of member Liam O’Hanna, known as Mo Chara, who was charged earlier this month over a video in which he appeared with a Hezbollah flag during a London concert. O’Hanna has denied the allegations, telling The Guardian the video was taken out of context and was part of a satirical performance. “Why should I regret it? It was a joke — we're playing characters,” he said.
Wearing a keffiyeh, O’Hanna told the Glastonbury crowd their own legal and political struggles pale in comparison to the daily suffering of Palestinians living under occupation. “This situation can be quite stressful, but it’s minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are facing,” he said to cheers and raised flags from the crowd.
Earlier in the evening, punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led a segment of the audience in chanting “Death, death to the IDF,” a direct protest against the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The chant, though controversial, was framed by supporters as a rejection of state violence and a cry of solidarity with victims of ongoing military operations.
The BBC editor is gonna have some job 👏😂🇵🇸
— Jackie 🍀 (@Jackie7681) June 28, 2025
'The stress that we are feeling is minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are going through every fucking day' 🇵🇸💚 #Kneecap #Glastonbury2025 pic.twitter.com/dXmABxX3tm
Kneecap also expressed support for Palestine Action, an activist group recently banned by the UK government under terrorism legislation. DJ Provai wore a shirt referencing the group, whose direct action campaigns have targeted institutions linked to arms sales to Israel.
The BBC really thought they had it all covered by not live streaming Kneecaps set 😂
— The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) June 28, 2025
Then comes along Bob Vylan 🎤 #Glastonbury2025
pic.twitter.com/jElyFDuwgx
Despite calls from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel their set, Glastonbury organizers stood firm. Co-founder Michael Eavis said, “People that don’t like the politics of the event can go somewhere else.”
The BBC declined to air the performance live but indicated it may be available on-demand — a decision that reflects the ongoing debate about artistic expression and political protest in mainstream media.
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