The band was initially scheduled to open for Gogol Bordello in Lisbon and Porto on October 11 and 12, according to the LAV website, but it was announced in July that they would not be accompanying the group.
The group, known for its politically charged music, gained international attention following a performance at the Glastonbury Festival, where they chanted for the death of the Israeli Defense Forces. This act drew numerous reactions and criticism, including from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and prompted an ongoing police investigation.
“Sometimes we have to deliver our message with violence because that’s the only language some people understand, unfortunately,” the lead singer stated.
Later on social media, the band wrote: “We do not advocate the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people. We advocate dismantling a violent military machine. A machine whose soldiers are instructed to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians awaiting help. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
“The more they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal actions. We are being attacked for speaking publicly. We are not the first, and we won’t be the last, and if you care about the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too. Free Palestine,” the group expressed.
Bob Vylan was removed from festival lineups and ultimately left the Gogol Bordello tour, which was initially justified by the band Bobbie and Bobby Vylan as “logistical complications.”
However, a social media post by Gogol Bordello clarified that the bands’ concerts in Germany were canceled by the venues, leading them to decide “to remove Bob Vylan from the tour until they could fully understand the situation.”
“Unfortunately, it is logistically impossible for Bob Vylan to participate in the tour under the circumstances. We worked diligently with our friends Bob Vylan to find a solution, but in the end, it wasn’t possible,” concluded Gogol Bordello.
Tickets for the concert in Lisbon are already on sale for 25 euros.
More than 146 countries now recognize Palestine. Recently, France, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have also committed to doing so.
Portugal has also begun the process toward recognizing Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly.
This decision follows the war raging in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, triggered by a Palestinian Hamas attack in Israeli territory that resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.
The conflict in the Palestinian enclave has led to at least 62,004 casualties, mostly civilians, and 154,906 injuries, along with thousands missing, presumed buried in rubble, and thousands more who have died from disease, infections, and starvation, according to updated figures from local authorities deemed credible by the UN.
Deaths from starvation continue daily, caused by a blockade of humanitarian aid for over two months, followed by an Israeli ban on UN humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations entering the territory.
Some supplies are trickling in and being distributed at sites deemed “safe” by the military, which regularly fires on starving Palestinian civilians, having so far killed 1,908 and injured at least 13,863.
