Kneecap invites mixed responses amid row over ‘kill your MP’ footage
The Irish hip-hop band Kneecap has been making headlines over the last couple of weeks and creating a stir on social media for calling out Israel’s deadly war on Gaza during a concert and then for a controversial video from 2023 that re-emerged this week.
On 18 April, Kneecap member Mo Chara wore a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian identity, during the band's performance at the Coachella music festival in California. The band projected images on screens during the concert which said the Gaza war was "being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes".
"F*** Israel Free Palestine," another screen read. Members of the group have been vocal supporters of the Palestinian people, often garnering praise from their fans.
Over the past couple of days, however, the group is once again in the headlines for a controversial video that resurfaced from 2023.
In the video from one of the band’s concerts, one member of the band appears to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
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Another video from November last year is also being assessed, according to the Metropolitan Police in the UK. The footage appears to show a band member shouting, "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a concert in London.
This created a furore on social media, as well as among many members of the UK Parliament. According to the BBC, the husband of murdered UK MP Jo Cox has said that Kneecap should give a "real apology" after the footage emerged.
On Monday, the band put out a statement on the social media platform X, clarifying that the band “rejects any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual”.
The band also said that they “do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah.”
The statement became a tinderbox on social media, with some fans praising the band for the bold statement. In contrast, others see it as “backtracking” on their unequivocal support for the Palestinians.
Cancel culture in full swing with Kneecap.
— RonnieJ67 🇵🇸 (@RonnieJM67) April 28, 2025
Young working class guys calling out the worst people of earth using direct language that we can all connect with.
Refreshing and should be an inspiration to all artists to have a set of baws.
Some fans thought the band was submitting to pressure from pro-Israeli or Zionist factions, and suggested that the band should have “stuck with their principles”.
Guys.. throwing the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance under the bus isn’t going to stop the Zionists calling you antisemites. Should have stuck with your principles. Sad.
— Daily Facts ™ 🍉☘️ (@chuchaquix) April 29, 2025
Many people on social media focused on the legitimacy of armed resistance under international law in their responses to the band’s statement, with many adding that international law “gives people the right to resist occupation by all means including military”.
The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful under international law due to its permanence and the Israeli government’s de facto annexation policies, according to a report by the United Nations General Assembly.
Grow & learn: Hez & Hamas are resistance groups & int law gives people the right to resist occupation by all means including military. There’s never been “two sides” to 100 years of colonization, 80 years of slow genocide & 18 months of fast genocide. Fuck USrael often & 4ever. https://t.co/pp8nUONM7i
— Bartleby the Scavenger (@bonestopik) April 29, 2025
Many online argued that the debate around the 2023 footage and the outrage around it is a way to “ignore the real threat to international law… that is going on with the genocide in Gaza”.
The Western media today gave us an in depth look at the threats facing politicians following Kneecap's poorly chosen words, taken out of context.
— Tim Perceval 🇵🇸🕊️ (@timperceval) April 29, 2025
Another excuse to ignore the real threat to international law, human rights and humanity that is going on with the Genocide in Gaza. https://t.co/gIKow3xz0Z
Kneecap’s statement shared a similar sentiment, with the band suggesting that the footage was “deliberately taken out of context and is being exploited”.
“This distortion is not only absurd - it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation,” the Belfast band said in the statement.
Kneecap, named after the harsh form of punishment inflicted by paramilitary groups during the Troubles, is recognised for its strong Irish republican stance and progressive political outlook.
Many TV and media personalities condemned the group for their statements during their Coachella set for being “anti-Israel” and compared their statements to those heard in Nazi Germany.
However, the band received widespread praise and recognition for its support for the Palestinian people, who have been besieged by bombings and starved by the Israeli government since Israel’s war on Gaza started in October 2023.
Over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with thousands still missing and feared dead. Most of the victims have been women and children.
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