Kneecap supports Palestine at Glastonbury as crowd chants against IDF and UK political pressure mounts

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.