Wes Streeting brands 'death to the IDF' Glastonbury chant a 'publicity stunt' as festival says it 'crossed the line'
The health secretary has described anti-Israel comments made by Bob Vylan vocalist Pascal Robinson-Foster at the Glastonbury festival a "publicity stunt."
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The group chanted “death to the IDF” during their set at the festival yesterday as they condemned Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
The IDF, or Israel Defence Force, is Israel’s army.
Crowds joined in on the chant, as well as calls to “free, free Palestine.”
Speaking to LBC's Lewis Goodall, Health Sec Wes Streeting said: “I’d never heard of this guy, I’m sure that played a part in why he did it."
Mr Streeting added that "publicity stunts" like the chants at Glastonbury take away from the "horrors" Palestinian people are currently facing in Gaza and the West Bank.
“Those comments do no service to the Palestinian people, who just this week saw their villages in the West Bank attacked and burned by Israeli settler terrorists.”
He added that it was "ironic" the chants were made at a music festival, a similar setting to where over 370 people were killed at the Nova festival on October 7.
"This requires serious diplomacy," he said.
"It requires governments to work together to bring pressure to bear on Israel and Hamas to make sure the hostages are released, that the war is ended and that we create a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. That's a serious approach that's needed, not these sorts of gimmicks and publicity stuff."
Sir Keir Starmer also criticised the chants as "appalling hate speech" and demanded answers from the BBC on how they were broadcast to viewers.
The Prime Minister said: "There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.
"I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.
"The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast."
We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) June 28, 2025
Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. pic.twitter.com/w2RQ4LdQf3
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes "grotesque", writing on X: "Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked."
The Israeli Embassy said it was “deeply concerned” by the chants.
"We call on Glastonbury Festival organisers, artists, and public leaders in the UK to denounce this rhetoric and reject of all forms of hatred," it said.
Avon and Somerset police confirmed they are investigating footage from the festival.
Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has said chants "crossed the line."
"Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence," she wrote.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack, has killed at least 53,000 people, the vast majority women and children.
Recent months have seen Israel enact a blockade on Gaza, preventing food and crucial medical supplies from entering the region.
The UN has wanted mass starvation and famine to be possible if more aid does not enter Gaza soon.
Yesterday, Israel killed at least 62 people in strikes across Gaza.