Enter Shikari used their Studying Competition 2025 set to name out the “atrocity” in Gaza. See their full speech beneath.
The band carried out on Studying’s Predominant Stage yesterday (August 23), and mirrored on a earlier efficiency in 2010, the place frontman Rou Reynolds wore a t-shirt displaying the phrases “Free Gaza”.
He instructed the gang that, again then, he was starting to be taught in regards to the scenario within the area, and the way Israel “handled Palestinians like second-class residents. It subjected them to fixed intimidation, humiliation, subjugation, and compelled them to stay in what was usually described as an open-air jail,” he stated.
“That was 15 years in the past. We’ve all seen simply how fucking horrific issues we’ve received now. We’ve seen the firepower equal of six Hiroshima atomic bombs dropped on Gaza within the final two years, each single college and college destroyed. Virtually 300 journalists murdered.”
The frontman added: “Docs killed, maimed, detained. Youngsters shot within the head by snipers. It needs to be repeated many times that this isn’t a tragedy. This isn’t a pure catastrophe. That is the coordinated mass displacement, mass hunger and mass homicide of the Palestinians in Gaza. This isn’t a tragedy, it’s a warfare crime.”
Since Hamas’ assault on Israeli residents on October 7, 2023 that killed over 1100 folks and noticed 250 taken as hostages, a number of UN human-rights specialists and UN our bodies have said that Israel’s navy actions in Gaza might quantity to genocide, and the Worldwide Court docket of Justice has discovered claims of genocide believable.
In keeping with the Gaza Well being Ministry, at the least 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Israel rejects the genocide accusations and denies committing any warfare crimes, sustaining that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.
On Friday, (August 22) it was confirmed that famine is going down in Gaza, in a report by The Built-in Meals Safety Section Classification (IPC), backed by the United Nations. The report acknowledged that the scenario is “solely man-made”, and support organisations are additionally accusing Israel of the “systematic obstruction” of meals getting into the Gaza Strip.
Reynolds continued: “So in the event you’re watching this stay stream genocide in your cellphone and your coronary heart breaks on daily basis, take energy in realizing that you just nonetheless have your humanity left, and the world hasn’t crushed it out of you but.
“Enter Shikari want to reassert their solidarity with the Jewish folks, Muslims, Christians, Atheists and everybody world wide who calls for an finish to this atrocity. Open the borders and let the help into Gaza now. Cease supporting and arming Israel now.”
“‘No politics. Please, persist with the music. No politics, please.’ We’ve had that for 20 years, and for 20 years we’ve ignored it, and I’ll inform you why. To be silent in occasions of atrocity is to help in sustaining that atrocity.
“I’ll finish by paraphrasing an awesome Jewish sage, Rabbi Tarfon, who as soon as stated, ‘It’s not the obligation of you alone to heal this world, however it’s essential to not chorus from attempting’. So we won’t chorus from standing up, and we won’t chorus from talking out, and we won’t chorus from attempting to assist heal this world. Love solely, Free Palestine.”
Followers on Twitter/X complained that the set was reduce quick on BBC iPlayer, with the speech not aired and, at time of writing, it has not but been uploaded to the broadcaster’s web site.
What is that this woke nonsense from the @BBCR1 @BBCiPlayer not exhibiting stay bands for studying pageant. The place is enter shikari. If limp bizkit isn't proven tonight is loopy
— Itzrm93 (@robbiemclean) August 23, 2025
Did Enter Shikari actually solely play 6 songs at Studying Fest? #readingfestival
— Jack Miller (@jackryanmiller) August 23, 2025
As in the event that they're solely exhibiting half of the Enter Shikari Studying set smh
— Laura (@adaptognz) August 23, 2025
They solely performed 5 songs from Enter Shikari on the livestream
— J-Man (@DaRealJavier) August 23, 2025
It follows an earlier speech the band made in February, expressing solidarity with Palestine throughout a present at Wembley Area. “We’ve been yelling ‘Free Gaza’, ‘Free Palestine’ for 15 years,” frontman Rou Reynolds stated. “I simply hope to God that there’s nonetheless a Gaza and a Palestine left when this fucking nightmare ends.
In addition they spoke out after Barclays Financial institution withdrew from sponsoring Obtain, Latitude and Isle Of Wight festivals following an artist boycott, saying: “We don’t imagine in rushed reactions and all the time need one of the best consequence for all concerned. Because of this collective stress we now imagine now we have achieved that – Barclays have pulled out of Obtain Competition.”
Hozier additionally used his set at Studying to deal with the scenario in Gaza, in addition to Palestine Motion, Kneecap, free speech and equality, telling the gang: “Security and safety for everyone within the Center East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation, that’s free from these cycles of genocide and violence, and it means seeing a Palestine that’s free to maneuver in direction of significant self-determination and statehood.”
Followers watching Studying & Leeds from dwelling can observe the NME’s liveblog right here. Additionally, learn how to look at and pay attention on TV and radio right here.
The submit Enter Shikari deal with “atrocity” in Gaza throughout Studying Competition set: “This isn’t a tragedy, it’s a warfare crime” appeared first on NME.
