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Chants of death to the Israeli military at Glastonbury were "appalling" and the BBC and the festival have questions to address, Wes Streeting has said, while adding that Israel needs to "get its own home in order".

The health secretary said the chanting should not have actually been relayed to those seeing in the house, highlighting that Israelis at a similar music festival were abducted, killed and raped.
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"I believed it's appalling, to be honest, and I believe the BBC and Glastonbury have actually got concerns to answer about how we saw such a phenomenon on our screens," he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News. "But I also believe it's a quite outrageous promotion stunt, which I don't really wish to provide too much extravagance to for that factor."

He also had strong words for Israel, which has actually condemned the chanting. Streeting said what individuals should be speaking about in the context of Israel and Gaza is the humanitarian disaster in the area and the fact that Israeli settlers attacked a Christian town in the West Bank this week.

"All life is sacred. And I discover it quite revolting we've got to a state in this dispute where you're supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it's a football team," he stated.

Inquired about the Israel embassy's action to the chants at Glastonbury, he said: "Well, I 'd say sort of 2 things in reaction to those words from the Israeli embassy. Firstly, I do think that if I take the equivalent of the war in Ukraine, I'm unequivocal about which side of that war I'm on. I desire Ukraine to win. Would I be celebrating or chanting for the death of Russian soldiers? No, I want to see an end to the war, and I want to see an end to the dispute.

"I 'd likewise say to the Israeli embassy, get your own home in order in regards to the conduct of your own residents and the settlers in the West Bank. So, you understand, I think there's a serious point there by the Israeli embassy I take seriously. I want they 'd take the violence of their own residents towards Palestinians more seriously."

Police are taking a look at videos of comments made by the acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury as the celebration enters its 3rd day.

On Saturday the rapper Bobby Vylan, of the rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds at the celebration's West Holts phase in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].

Describing himself as a "violent punk", he said: "Sometimes we have to get our message across with violence because that's the only language some individuals speak, unfortunately."

Glastonbury organisers stated on Sunday that the act had actually crossed a line. "With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our phases whose views we do not share, and an entertainer's presence here must never be seen as an implied recommendation of their opinions and beliefs," the festival stated in a declaration.

"However, we are horrified by the statements made from the West Holts phase by Bob Vylan the other day.

"Their chants quite crossed a line and we are urgently advising everybody associated with the production of the festival that there is no location at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence."

Bob Vylan carried out before the Irish rap trio Kneecap, who contacted fans to appear at Westminster magistrates to support the band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, referred to as Mo Chara, who was charged with a terrorism offense for holding a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November.

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Ó hAnnaidh informed the crowd on Saturday: "Glastonbury, I'm a free guy!" He added: "If anyone falls down, you have actually got to pick them up. We have actually got to keep each other safe." He thanked the Eavis household, the festival's organisers, for "holding strong" and allowing their performance to go ahead.

Avon and Somerset authorities said: "We are mindful of the remarks made by act upon the West Holts phase at Glastonbury festival this afternoon. Video evidence will be examined by officers to determine whether any may have been committed that would need a criminal examination."

The Israeli embassy said it was "deeply interrupted by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury festival".

A declaration on X stated: "Freedom of expression is a foundation of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it should be called out - especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms.

"Chants such as 'Death to the IDF,' and 'From the river to the sea' are slogans that promote for the dismantling of the state of Israel and implicitly call for the removal of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before tens of countless festivalgoers and satisfied with applause, it raises serious issues about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.
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