Irish Band Kneecap Sparks Controversy at Coachella with ‘F*** Israel, Free Palestine’ Projection – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:30 AM – Monday, April 21, 2025
The Irish hip hop group “Kneecap,” hailing from West Belfast, Northern Ireland, sparked controversy at Coachella on Saturday by projecting a message stating “Free Palestine” above the stage, while also accusing Israel of genocide during their performance.
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“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” proclaimed the message displayed above. “This is enabled by the U.S., which arms and funds Israel despite their war crimes.”
“F*** Israel, Free Palestine,” it further stated.
The Irish community has historically shown solidarity with the Palestinian cause, often drawing parallels between their own historical oppression under British rule and the struggles faced by Palestinians under Israeli control. As a predominantly Roman Catholic nation, Ireland has a strong legacy of supporting anti-apartheid efforts, indigenous rights, and various anti-colonial movements. Within the EU, the Irish parliament was among the first to label Israeli settlement policies as “de facto annexation,” referring to a state-like function without formal recognition or legal rights. Notably, Irish media and public discourse tend to provide more prominence to the Palestinian narrative compared to many other Western nations.
During their recent Coachella performance, band member Mo Chara emphasized, “The Palestinians have nowhere to go.”
“It’s their f***ing home. And they’re bombing them from the skies. If you’re not calling it genocide, what the f*** are you calling it?” he added.
Kneecap has consistently addressed political issues, having shared in an interview last year that their roots in Northern Ireland heavily influence their activism.
“Given our background, everything has to involve politics,” the band explained. “We’re a band, for f***’s sake. We create music. Naturally, we engage in political matters.”
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. Just because we rap in Irish and may not share your political views, we can still connect with people who have different beliefs,” they added.
On Sunday, the American rock band Green Day also voiced their criticism regarding the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict during their performance.
Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong modified the lyrics of the song “Jesus of Suburbia,” changing them from “Runnin’ away from pain when you’ve been victimized” to “Runnin’ away from pain like the kids from Palestine.”
The discontent directed towards Israel stems from the IDF’s military response to Hamas’ brutal assault on Israel on October 7th, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, along with around 250 hostages taken by the militant group — marking the most severe assault on Israel since its establishment.
Nevertheless, Israel’s retaliatory actions have led to nationwide criticism of its government.
In relation to Ireland, tensions have escalated between Israel and “the Emerald Isle.” Israel closed its embassy in Dublin in December, citing the “extreme anti-Israel stance of the Irish government.”
Moreover, Dublin has joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, prompting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to react by stating, “the antisemitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is employing against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and double standards.”
In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris firmly rejected Sa’ar’s accusations, stating: “I completely reject the claim that Ireland is ‘anti-Israel.’”
“Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights, and pro-international law,” he continued. “Ireland advocates for a two-state solution for both Israel and Palestine to coexist in peace and security. Ireland will always stand for human rights and adherence to international law.”
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