At a music show on Saturday, the music group Bob Vylan shouted “Death, death to the IDF,” referring to the Israeli army (IDF means Israel Defense Forces).
The police said they are thinking about whether to investigate this, but they didn’t name Bob Vylan or Kneecap, an Irish rap group who also criticized Israel at the same show.
Police added that they are checking videos to see if any crimes were committed.
UK political leader Keir Starmer called the chant “hate speech” and said such performers should not be allowed to perform.
The festival organizers also spoke against the chant, saying it crossed a line. They reminded everyone that the Glastonbury Festival does not allow hate speech, antisemitism, or encouraging violence.
The Israeli Embassy in the UK also condemned the words spoken on stage.
Bob Vylan has two members: one is a singer-guitarist named Bobby Vylan, and the other is a drummer named Bobbie Vylan. They haven’t responded to any questions from the media.
Keir Starmer also criticized the BBC, the broadcaster that aired the show, for showing that performance. He asked the BBC to explain why it was broadcast.
The BBC said the comments were very offensive, and they had already shown a warning on screen. They added that the show won’t be available to watch again.
After Bob Vylan’s set, Kneecap performed on the same stage. The group’s main singer, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (stage name Mo Chara), accused Israel of committing war crimes. He is already facing a terrorism charge for showing a Hezbollah flag at a different concert, but he denies the charge.
Starmer had earlier said that Kneecap should not be performing at the festival.
Another UK minister, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also criticized Bob Vylan’s chants. But he said the Israeli Embassy should also look at how Israeli settlers are treating Palestinians in the West Bank.
Ash Sarkar, a political writer, said that punk bands often say shocking things. She added, “Don’t book punk bands if you don’t want them to act like punks.”
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