Key facts
- U2 frontman Bono compared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's statements about Gaza residents to the rhetoric of Nazi official Heinrich Himmler.
- Bono stated that Ben-Gvir's remarks undermine Judaism's moral standing.
- Bono urged Israel to address the Nakba's legacy and seek justice for Palestinians.
- Ben-Gvir responded to Bono's comments by suggesting the singer help Gazans emigrate to Ireland.
- Ben-Gvir's response included an AI-generated video on X titled 'Gaza to Ireland'.
U2 frontman Bono has drawn a parallel between Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's statements regarding Palestinians in Gaza and the rhetoric of Nazi official Heinrich Himmler. Bono criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for retaining Ben-Gvir in his government, stating that the minister's remarks damage Judaism's moral standing.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Bono addressed comments Ben-Gvir made about Gaza residents, which were reportedly stated in a conversation with former hostage survivor Rom Braslavski. According to reports, Ben-Gvir said of some people in Gaza that they were not worthy of life and did not need to live. Bono compared this rhetoric to that of Himmler, one of the leaders of the Nazi regime and an architect of the Holocaust.
Bono also urged Israel to confront the legacy of the Nakba, which led to the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians, and to accept compromises to secure justice for Palestinians. He stressed that he continues to support Israel while also supporting the Palestinians' right to their own state.
Ben-Gvir responded to Bono's interview via X (formerly Twitter), posting an AI-generated video titled 'Gaza to Ireland.' The video depicted Gazan children singing to Bono, asking him to help them emigrate to Ireland and urging him to listen to Ben-Gvir. The video claimed that over 1.5 million people in Gaza wish to start over in a third country.
Bono also discussed the influence of Jewish creators on his life and work, stating that Ben-Gvir's remarks were scandalous and damaging to the image of Judaism. The song "The Tears of Things," which explores Jewish history and the events preceding the Gaza conflict, was also mentioned in the context of the interview.