Macklemore vows to fight until 'last breath' at opening of 'Free Palestine' tour

American rapper Macklemore opened his 'Free Palestine' concert tour in Dublin on Monday, vowing to fight for collective liberation until his last breath. The tour was organized after he was dropped as Ed Sheeran's opening act over pro-Palestinian remarks. The 13,000 tickets sold out within minutes, with support acts including Hozier and Kneecap.

American rapper Macklemore opened his 'Free Palestine' concert tour in Dublin on Monday, vowing to continue speaking out against Israel's war in Gaza. The Grammy-winning rapper received a deafening ovation at the 3Arena, where fans draped in Palestinian flags and keffiyeh scarves chanted 'Free Free Palestine' throughout. Macklemore said on stage: 'I am proud to stand here on stage in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We will continue to fight for collective liberation until our last breath.' The tour was organized after he was dropped as the opening act for Ed Sheeran over pro-Palestinian remarks made at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium six weeks ago. Irish artists including Hozier, Kneecap, and Beoga performed in support. Palestinian singer Lina Makhoul and Palestinian American DJ Habibeats also performed, with actor Liam Cunningham speaking between sets. The article notes that Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The tour will continue in Paris and London this week, with US dates to be announced.