Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ concerts draw scrutiny over pledged proceeds for anti-Israel group

American rapper Macklemore's upcoming 'Free Palestine' concerts in London, Paris and Dublin are under scrutiny after it emerged that proceeds will benefit the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), whose British branch reportedly defended the taking of hostages during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Jewish community leaders and British politicians are demanding answers from concert promoter Live Nation.

American rapper Macklemore's upcoming 'Free Palestine' concerts in London, Paris and Dublin are drawing scrutiny after it emerged that proceeds will benefit the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), an activist group whose British branch reportedly defended the taking of hostages during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. The attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Jewish community leaders and British politicians are demanding answers from concert promoter Live Nation over the group's inclusion. The Jewish Leadership Council said PYM's inclusion raised questions about Live Nation's vetting, noting the group referred to October 7 as a 'prison break' and used Hamas's name for the attack — 'Al-Aqsa Flood.' Conservative UK lawmaker Rebecca Paul, the shadow culture secretary, said she wanted answers about why Live Nation is helping to fund the organization and what checks were undertaken. Lord Walney, a former British government adviser on political violence, described the concert as a 'hate fest.' Macklemore announced the concerts after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's US tour over a performance of his anti-Israel protest song 'Hind's Hall.'