Support for Palestine vocalized against during Oslo concert
Kneecap, an Irish rap group, have found themselves at the centre of controversy once again, following their performance at the Glastonbury Festival and their ongoing support for the Palestinian cause.
During their set at the festival, Kneecap displayed a message accusing Israel of committing war crimes against the Palestinians. The message also called for "Free Palestine." This is not the first time Kneecap has voiced their support for the Palestinian cause, a recurring theme in the controversies surrounding the group.
The group has been a subject of controversy in Britain since last year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for the band due to its anti-British politics. More recently, last month, Kneecap was banned from entering Hungary for three years over accusations of antisemitism. In response, the band stated that it was a "further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people."
The decision to block the arts grant was overturned after the Labour Party won last year's parliamentary election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office. Festival organizers of Sziget, where Kneecap was scheduled to perform on Aug. 11, stated that Kneecap had "reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget's values or Hungarian law." However, the ban prevented their performance at the festival, which the organizers described as "both unnecessary and regrettable."
The controversy surrounding Kneecap highlights the tension between political activism in art, accusations of hate speech, and the polarizing nature of the Israel-Palestine conflict as expressed through public cultural events and government actions. Kneecap, alongside artists like Massive Attack and Brian Eno, have condemned what they describe as censorship attempts due to their outspoken criticism of Israel and call to end the Gaza conflict, framing their activism as part of a broader artists’ movement defending free expression and Palestinian rights.
Timeline and Key Events:
- Throughout the Gaza war 2024-2025: Kneecap expressed solidarity with Palestine, condemning Israel's actions as genocide and accusing governments—such as Norway's—of enabling it through investments.
- August 8, 2025 (Oslo): In a performance at Øya Festival, the band displayed a video message accusing the Norwegian government of enabling genocide via sovereign wealth fund investments in Israel, receiving cheers from the audience.
- Early 2025: One member of Kneecap was charged under UK terrorism laws for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a concert. The band denied any support for Hezbollah or Hamas and claimed this charge was part of a smear campaign related to their pro-Palestinian stance.
- July 24, 2025: Hungary banned Kneecap from entering the country for three years, citing alleged antisemitic hate speech and accusations of support for Hamas and Hezbollah, which Hungary considered a national security threat.
- August 11, 2025: The ban prevented their scheduled performance at Hungary’s Sziget Festival, despite festival organizers stating that Kneecap’s performance would have complied with festival values and Hungarian law.
Reasons for Controversy:
- Political Expression: Kneecap has used their platform explicitly to call out Israel's military actions in Gaza as genocide, joining other musicians who criticize Western governments' roles in the conflict, especially emphasizing financial involvements through investment funds.
- Accusations of Antisemitism: Hungarian authorities claim the band promotes antisemitism and supports terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The band denies these accusations and states they only oppose Israel’s policies and condemn violence, emphasizing that they reject hate crimes while supporting Palestinian rights.
- Legal and Political Pushback: The UK legal charge against a band member and Hungary’s ban represent institutional responses seen by the band and supporters as attempts to silence pro-Palestinian voices in the arts.
- Industry Repercussions: Kneecap and allied artists report intimidation and censorship attempts within the music industry due to their stance on Palestine, which they say threatens emerging artists and larger platforms alike.
- Despite controversy and political pushback, Kneecap, along with artists like Massive Attack and Brian Eno, continue to defend their free expression and Palestinian rights through their art, including music and public performances.
- Accusations of antisemitism from Hungarian authorities against Kneecap, who deny any support for Hamas or Hezbollah, have only served to further polarize the controversy surrounding the Irish rap group and their pro-Palestinian stance.
- In response to calls for free expression and the denial of antisemitic charges, Kneecap and other artists argue that the industry itself is complicit in censorship attempts targeting those who criticize Israel's actions in Gaza and support Palestinian rights.
- The upcoming timeline highlights the impact of Kneecap's political expression and the controversy surrounding their stance, including a ban from performing at Hungary's Sziget Festival and charges under UK terrorism laws for one member of the band.
- By vocalizing their support for the Palestinian cause and condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, Kneecap has inserted themselves as key figures in ongoing debates about political activism in art and the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict expressed through cultural events and government actions.
