Kneecap continue to call out Gaza 'genocide' ahead of Sziget fest ban
'It is important to say that Hungary is an island of freedom and peace in a troubled world. Here, no one can be abused because of their origin or religion, even verbally. The organizers could have been wise enough not to invite them and not put Hungary in such a situation.'
These were the words of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, referring to Kneecap's ban. Orbán also labelled Kneecap as 'anti-Semitic', with the Hungarian government stating that the band's statements cannot be protected by artistic freedom or freedom of expression.
The band has denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band 'weaponize' the false accusation to 'distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.'
Kneecap has not been deterred and has frequently used their platform at various music festivals to speak out not against the Jewish people but against Israel's war in Gaza.
They did so at Coachella – where they denounced the US government's funding of 'war criminal Israel'; at Best Kept Secret - where the pre-show screening denounces the 'Israeli genocide and the Western media's cover-up"; at Glastonbury – where their controversial set alongside Bob Vylan launched a police investigation; and most recently during their set at Øyafestivalen in Oslo.
Indeed, the band criticised the Norwegian government ahead of their performance at the festival last Friday (8 August), displaying a message on the video screen that accused the Norwegian government of 'enabling' the 'genocide' in Gaza through the country's 'oil pension fund'.
Kneecap were referring to the Government Pension Fund of Norway, which invests surplus revenues from the country's petroleum industry and has a reported €1.6trillion in assets.
The fund has faced controversy after a recent report from Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten found it had invested around €13million in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd. – a jet engines parts manufacturer supplying the Israeli military – between 2023-2024.
In the wake of the report, the Norwegian government has launched a review of the fund to ensure that it is not investing in Israeli companies contributing to the war in Gaza. Norway has also recognised Palestine as a state.
'Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,' Kneecap's message continued. 'Free Palestine.'
During their Oslo performance, Kneecap could be heard on stage saying: 'The fact is, as long as we're on stage and as long as nothing is changing, Kneecap will always use this platform and this stage to call out the genocide and the war criminals. I don't need to lecture you people when your oil fund is being used to fund the genocide.'
Band member Mo Chara also gave a 'quick shout-out' to Øyafestivalen for 'standing by Kneecap' despite calls for them to be removed from the line-up.
Not every festival stands by Kneecap's freedom of expression, as evidenced by the recent news that the band's upcoming gig in Vienna on 1 September has been cancelled 'due to acute safety concerns', following political pressure from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
However, and despite the ban, Sziget tried to defend Kneecap's performance for as long as it could. The organisers' position was to condemn hate speech, but to guarantee all performers the right to artistic expression.
A statement from Sziget also mentions that they have been in close contact with members of Kneecap, who assured them that their show would not violate Hungarian law or Sziget's principles. Still, the Hungarian government's decision means that fans will be left wanting.
Festival director Tamás Kádár called the ban on Kneecap an unprecedented, unnecessary and regrettable move that will damage Sziget and Hungary's international image.
Kádár told Euronews Culture at a press briefing on Day Zero that many in the pop scene were deeply shocked by what had happened, and that he believed the issue went far beyond Kneecap.
"I think that this is not about the band, but about the world's attitude to culture in general, or politics' attitude to culture,' Kádár said, adding: 'Or rather, the fact that recently, politics and war have entered the cultural life of the day. And it seems that not all politicians know what to do with that."
Conversely, audiences do know what to do, as many were heard chanting "dirty Fidesz" (Orbán's national-conservative party) and several Free Palestine flags were seen during the opening day of Sziget festival.
While Hungarian audiences have been deprived of Kneecap, many other festivals are sticking with the band – including the upcoming Green Man Festival in Wales. The band has more than forty concerts remaining on its calendar for this year – including dates in Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and Belgium – and then a US leg which kicks off in October.
Since Hamas' attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible.
Israel has rejected the genocide accusations and maintain that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence. Claims Kneecap have vocally rebuked. And will continue to do so.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Watch Kneecap condemn Viktor Orbán in surprise Sziget 2025 broadcast
Irish rappers Kneecap were supposed to be headlining the last night of this year's Sziget music festival but ended up being banned not just from the event but from Hungary for three years. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced last month that the trio were deemed a 'national security threat' and officially banned from entering Hungary for 'anti-Semitism and glorifying terror'. Still, that didn't stop the band from getting their voices heard loud and clear. Kneecap posted a message on social media, urging fans to assemble at the Buzz Stage at 23:05 on Monday. 'We will have a message for you,' they teased. When the time came, a huge crowd – with many waving Palestinian flags - watched a video message play over the big screen. 'Hello Sziget. We hope you're all enjoying the festival and staying safe," the message began. "We wish we could be there with you at one of the best festivals in the world and the first European festival Kneecap ever played. We can't because of one hate filled man. Viktor Orbán.' This was met with boos and chants of 'f*ck Orbán.' The message continued: 'We have been convicted of zero crimes in any country ever. But we will call out oppression. For calling out Israel's genocidal campaign Viktor has banned us from your beautiful country for 3 years. Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people. Viktor Orbán and his government support it. Viktor Orbán and his government tried to shut down Pride in Budapest. They failed. We must stand together." The broadcast ended with: "Oppose Orbán. Oppose Israel. Oppose genocide. Free Palestine.' Watch the moment below: Here is the full video posted on Kneecap's Instagram: Une publication partagée par KNEECAP (@kneecap32) The band has denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band 'weaponize' the false accusation to 'distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.' Undeterred by accusations, Kneecap has repeatedly used their platform at various music festivals to speak out not against the Jewish people but against Israel's war in Gaza. They did so at Coachella – where they denounced the US government's funding of 'war criminal Israel'; at Best Kept Secret - where the pre-show screening denounces the 'Israeli genocide and the Western media's cover-up"; at Glastonbury – where their controversial set alongside Bob Vylan launched a police investigation; and most recently during their set at Øyafestivalen in Oslo. Several festivals have cancelled Kneecap shows – including Germany's Hurricane and Southside festivals, and it was recently announced that the band's upcoming gig in Vienna on 1 September has been cancelled 'due to acute safety concerns', following political pressure from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). While Hungarian audiences were deprived of Kneecap, many other festivals are sticking with the band – including the upcoming Green Man Festival in Wales. The band has more than forty concerts remaining on its calendar for this year – including dates in Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and Belgium – and then a US leg which kicks off in October. Since Hamas' attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible. Israel has rejected the genocide accusations and maintain that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence. Claims that Kneecap has vocally rebuked. And continue to do so - whether they are kept on the festival line-up or no.
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
Netanyahu says Gaza ceasefire talks now focus on hostages
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that ceasefire efforts in Gaza are now focused on a comprehensive deal that would release the remaining hostages all at once, rather than in phases. In an interview with Israel's i24 News network broadcast Tuesday, Netanyahu was asked if the window had closed on a partial ceasefire deal. 'I think it's behind us,' Netanyahu replied. 'We tried, we made all kinds of attempts, we went through a lot, but it turned out that they were just misleading us.' 'I want all of them,' he said of the hostages. 'The release of all the hostages, both alive and dead — that's the stage we're at.' Arab officials told The Associated Press last week that mediators Egypt and Qatar were preparing a new framework for a deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages in one go in return for a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The long-running indirect talks appeared to break down last month, but a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Tuesday, Egypt's state-run Qahera news channel reported, a sign that efforts have not been abandoned after 22 months of war. Israel has threatened to widen its military offensive against Hamas to the areas of Gaza that it does not yet control and where most of the territory's 2 million residents have sought refuge. Those plans have sparked international condemnation and criticism within Israel and could be intended to raise pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire. The militants still hold 50 hostages taken in the Oct. 2023, attack that sparked the war. Israel believes around 20 of them are alive. 'I want all of them.' Netanyahu in the interview on Tuesday reiterated that Israel's demands haven't changed and that the war will end only when all hostages are returned and Hamas has surrendered. He has said that even then, Israel will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Hamas has long called for a comprehensive deal but says it will only release the remaining hostages in return for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The militant group has refused to lay down its arms, as Israel has demanded. UN warns about starvation, malnutrition Meanwhile, the United Nations on Tuesday warned that starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at the highest levels since the war began. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reported the warning from the World Food Program and said Gaza's Health Ministry told U.N. staff in Gaza that five people died over the last 24 hours from malnutrition and starvation. According to the UN ministry, around 121 adults and 101 children have died of malnutrition-related causes during the war. 'Against this backdrop, humanitarian supplies entering Gaza remain far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs,' Dujarric said.
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Euronews
Israel in talks to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan
Israel is reportedly in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from Gaza to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the territory largely left in ruins by the 22-month offensive against Hamas. Six people familiar with the matter confirmed to the AP news agency that talks have taken place, although it is unclear how far they have advanced. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to realise US President Donald Trump's vision of relocating much of Gaza's population through what Netanyahu refers to as "voluntary migration." Israel has floated similarly resettlement proposals with other African nations, including Sudan and Somalia. Palestinians, rights groups, and much of the international community have rejected the proposals as a blueprint for forcible expulsion in violation of international law. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment and South Sudan's foreign minister did not respond to questions about the talks. A US State Department spokesperson said it doesn't comment on private diplomatic conversations. Opposition to resettlement Joe Szlavik, the founder of a US lobbying firm working with South Sudan, said he was briefed by South Sudanese officials on the talks. He said an Israeli delegation plans to visit the country to look into the possibility of setting up camps for Palestinians there. No known date has been set for the visit and Israel did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the visit. Szlavik said Israel would likely pay for makeshift camps. Edmund Yakani, who heads a South Sudanese civil society group, said he had also spoken to South Sudanese officials about the talks. Four additional officials with knowledge of the discussions confirmed talks were taking place on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss them publicly. Two of the officials, both from Egypt, told AP they've known for months about Israel's efforts to find a country to accept Palestinians, including its contact with South Sudan. They said they've been lobbying South Sudan against taking the Palestinians. Egypt is deeply opposed to plans to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza, with which it shares a border, fearing an influx of refugees into its own territory. From one conflict zone to another Many Palestinians may want to temporarily leave Gaza to escape the war and a hunger crisis bordering on famine. But they have roundly rejected any permanent resettlement from what they see as an integral part of their national homeland. They fear that Israel will never allow them to return and that a mass departure would allow it to annex Gaza and re-establish Jewish settlements there, as called for by far-right ministers in the Israeli government. Still, even those Palestinians who want to leave are unlikely to want to go to South Sudan, among the world's most unstable and conflict-ridden countries. South Sudan has struggled to recover from a civil war that broke out after independence, and which killed nearly 400,000 people and plunged pockets of the country into famine. The oil-rich country is plagued by corruption and relies on international aid to help feed its 11 million people, a challenge that has only grown since the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance. A peace deal reached seven years ago has been fragile and incomplete and the threat of war returned when the main opposition leader Riek Machar was placed under house arrest earlier this year. Palestinians in particular could find themselves unwelcome. The long war for independence from Sudan pitted the mostly Christian and animist south against the predominantly Arab and Muslim north. Yakani, of the civil society group, said South Sudanese would need to know who is coming and how long they plan to stay, or there could be hostilities due to the "historical issues with Muslims and Arabs." "South Sudan should not become a dumping ground for people," he said. "And it should not accept to take people as negotiating chips to improve relations."
