Glastonbury band Bob Vylan issue furious statement and declare: 'We are being targeted'

Punk duo Bob Vylanhave released a statement saying they are being 'targeted for speaking up' after complaints were made about their set at Glastonbury Festival, which saw them chant "Death to the IDF".

They said: "Not the first. Not the last. Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. Last week, it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band.

"We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use 'unnecessary lethal forces' against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza."

They continued: "We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whichever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. The Government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?

"The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last and if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too. Free Palestine."

Following Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury, their visas for America, where they were due to perform, were rejected. United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X: "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.

"Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." The band's IDF chant came as the Israeli army admitted to shooting and killing Palestinian civilians at aid distribution sites in Gaza.

Since the end of May, more than 583 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured while waiting for food, as announced by Gaza's Ministry of Health.

An Israeli naval strike also hit a seaside cafe in Gaza, killing more than 30 people, including journalists.

Bob Vylan, who has since beendropped by their talent agent, performed live on the BBC at the time, but the corporation have since said they have no plans of putting it back on iPlayer.

Downing Street also issued a statement following the performance as they said it was "right" for the BBC to express regret at airing the set.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. The Prime Minister has been clear that any performers making threats or inciting violence should not be given a platform.”

He later added: “The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast. It’s right that they have now acknowledged the live stream should have been pulled and that they will look at guidance around live events going forward.”

Today, the BBC issued a statementto say theyshould have cut the livestreamto Bob Vylan's set. The set was uploaded to iPlayer and remained on the site for more than five hours before it was removed by the BBC.

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