Irish rap trio Kneecap used their set at France’s Rock en Seine festival to again condemn Israel’s ongoing genocide on Gaza, ignoring pressure from French officials and pro-Israel lobby groups to drop what they claimed was political messaging.
The group opened their performance in Saint-Cloud, near Paris, with chants of “Free, free Palestine!”, drawing cheers from thousands of supporters wearing keffiyehs and Irish football shirts, the AFP reported. Kneecap stressed they were “not against Israel” but denounced its actions in Gaza, which include famine and genocide.
French authorities in a bid to censor the act, had withdrawn tens of thousands of euros in subsidies from the festival after organisers refused to remove the Belfast-based group from the lineup.
Kneecap, who are known for their pro-Palestinian stance and criticism of British imperialism, have faced bans and charges over previous shows.
In June, they labelled Israel “war criminals” during a Glastonbury performance, and Hungary, one of Israel’s strongest backers in the European Union, barred them from entering the country to play at the Sziget Festival.
Festival director Matthieu Ducos told AFP ahead of the event that he was confident the group would “perform in the correct manner”. The concert went ahead without incident.
