There are some interesting comments flying around the interweb following Bob Vylan's comments made at Glastonbury Festivals over the weekend. For what it's worth, here's our thoughts...
During their Saturday set on Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage, UK punk-rap duo Bob Vylan sparked national controversy by leading chants of “Death, death to the IDF” — a reference to the Israel Defence Forces — amid a broader pro-Palestinian message that included “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea” slogans.
Supporters argue that the chant was a targeted political statement against a military institution, not an incitement to violence against individuals. They point to the IDF’s widely reported actions in Gaza and the West Bank — including mass displacement, civilian casualties, and alleged war crimes — as justification for such rhetoric. Bobby Vylan himself defended the chant, stating, “I said what I said,” and framed it as part of a broader call for justice and resistance.
Critics, including UK government officials, Glastonbury organisers, and the Israeli embassy, condemned the chant as hate speech and potentially incitement to violence. The BBC, which aired the set live, later removed it from iPlayer and issued a statement calling the comments “deeply offensive”. Avon and Somerset Police have launched a public order investigation, and the band’s US visas were revoked, with their agency reportedly severing ties.
Whether the chant constitutes incitement under UK law remains under investigation. Legal experts are divided: some argue that calling for the “death” of a military force could be interpreted as metaphorical or political speech, while others believe it crosses into unlawful territory under the Public Order Act 1986.
Since goodness knows when, the IDF has conducted a sustained military campaign in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of over 56,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children. Human rights organisations, UN officials, and legal scholars have described Israel’s actions as ethnic cleansing, citing forced displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, and the International Court of Justice is currently hearing a genocide case against Israel.
The Mail on Sunday ran a front-page headline claiming Bob Vylan had chanted “Death to Israelis” — a statement that was never made. The actual chant was “Death to the IDF,” as confirmed by video footage and multiple eyewitnesses. Legal experts and commentators have called this a libellous misrepresentation, with some suggesting the band could pursue a defamation case. However, no legal action has been announced at this time.
This incident has reignited debates around artistic freedom, political protest, and the boundaries of acceptable speech — particularly in the context of a festival long associated with activism. Whether Bob Vylan’s chant is remembered as a moment of righteous dissent or reckless provocation may ultimately depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation — and the broader reckoning with the war in Gaza.
What do YOU think, add your thoughts in the comments below.