U2 condemns Israeli government actions in Gaza as a "moral disaster"
U2 Urges Peace and Justice in Israel-Palestine Conflict
Irish rock band U2 has spoken out against the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, calling for negotiations to secure the release of hostages and voicing solidarity with Palestinians seeking peace and legitimate statehood alongside Israel.
In a statement, The Edge, a member of U2, expressed deep shock and profound grief over the suffering in Gaza. He questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his political vision if the two-state solution is rejected. The Edge suggested that if Israel denies Palestinians their rights, it could be seen as a state that systematically denies another people their rights.
U2 denounced the brutality inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Netanyahu government in Gaza and the West Bank. They criticized Israel's reported plans for a military takeover of Gaza City and restrictions on humanitarian aid. The band also condemned Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed and injured civilians, but said retaliation that harms noncombatants is unjustifiable.
The band urged the Netanyahu government to allow medical professionals and aid groups unrestricted access to affected areas in Gaza. Bono, lead singer of U2, expressed "revulsion" at the use of starvation and collective punishment by both Hamas and Israel.
Bono reiterated U2's support for Israel's right to exist and a two-state solution. He emphasized that Hamas should not be equated with the Palestinian people. U2 further criticized the brutality inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Netanyahu government in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Edge stated that starving innocent civilians as a weapon of war is inhumane and criminal. He added that preserving civilian life is a choice in this war. U2 called for an immediate end to fighting on both sides, preservation of civilian life, humanitarian access, and support a peaceful two-state solution recognizing the equal dignity and legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Overall, U2 frames their message as a call for justice, peace, and coexistence through a two-state solution, opposing both the violent actions of Hamas and the Israeli government's military responses they consider morally failing and disproportionate. They also criticized what they described as a "global hypocrisy" that focuses attention on this conflict while neglecting other humanitarian crises.
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