Pro-Palestinian activism was once again a prominent presence at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, with performing artists amplifying calls to end what many describe as a “genocide” in Gaza.
Concluding on Sunday at the UK’s Worthy Farm, the influential festival, which was attended by more than 200,000 people, has been marked by widespread calls from musicians and audiences alike to end the ongoing violence.
Social media reaction globally has been dominated by the movement, with many clips of Palestinian flags and “Free Palestine” chants going viral across the world.
Here are five artists who voiced their support.
CMAT
Irish singer Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known as CMAT, finished her set on the Pyramid Stage on Friday with a call for solidarity with Palestine.
The artist, 32, is best known for her songs I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby! and Stay for Something. Her next album, Euro-Country, is due for an August release.
“Thank you so much, have a great festival and free Palestine,” CMAT said on stage to the roar of the crowd. The artist then started a “free, free Palestine” call-and-response chant before blowing a kiss to to the sizeable audience.
Inhaler
Elijah Hewson, lead singer of Dublin band Inhaler and son of U2 frontman Bono and activist Alison Hewson, spoke out against the “genocide” of the Gazan people during his Other Stage set on Friday.
“I'd like to dedicate this next song to the people of Palestine. To any innocent people being starved or bombed or genocided for the sake of some lunatics,” said Hewson, 25.
“I feel like we have to say that because I think our greatest strength is freedom of expression, and there's no better place for it than right here at Glastonbury. So be kind to each other and have a great time.”
Bob Vylan
Bobby Vylan of the English punk duo Bob Vylan (consisting of two members with the same name) was the most vocal activist of the night, delivering a long speech during his Saturday set on the West Holts stage, which was part of the BBC's live broadcast, in support of Palestine.
Vylan said on stage: “We're seeing some messed up things happening in the world. We're seeing the UK and US being complicit in war crimes and genocide happening over there to the Palestinian people.
“I know we're on the BBC so we don't want to say anything crazy. But we have seen, unfortunately, a strange reaction to people that come out and voice support for Palestine. Even though anybody with any kind of moral compass can surely tell that what is happening over there in Gaza is a tragedy.”
Vylan also led the crowd in numerous pro-Palestinian chants, dedicating the set to acts who are “losing their platform to speak up for the Palestinian people and speak against the crimes that Israel and the UK and the US and much of the western world are complicit” in.
“This is for Murder Capital, this is for Kneecap, this is for Amyl and the Sniffers. Every single band out there using their platform to speak up for the Palestinian people. Because we must pray, hope and wish for a day when the Palestinian people are liberated and free from the tyranny of the Israeli government.”
Kneecap
Irish rap group Kneecap performed on the West Holts stage on Saturday, overcoming an alleged secret campaign from UK music industry professionals to remove the group from the line-up.
While the performance was not part of the BBC's live broadcast of the event, their set was well attended and featured an impassioned audience waving dozens of Palestinian flags.
“There's no hiding it. Israel are war criminals. It's a genocide. Free Palestine,” said Kneecap member Mo Chara on stage.
Hours later, the group released their introduction video compiling clips of politicians and public figures speaking out against them on their social media channels, saying “the crowd was so big, a good few heads couldn't see it so here you go”, adding a popcorn emoji.
Jordan Stephens
English musician Jordan Stephens, best known as one half of the group Rizzle Kicks and as the presenter of the ITV2 panel series Don't Hate the Playaz, invited his mother to the stage to dance during his Other Stage performance on Friday.
His mother both wore a keffiyeh and waved the Palestinian flag, which received a strong response from the audience.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More from Neighbourhood Watch
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
more from Janine di Giovanni
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
