Ed O'Brien: “My brothers abhor what is going on in Gaza”

Ed O'Brien has defended his bandmates over Gaza, in a reply to a fan on Instagram. His round-up of Glastonbury, posted on 2 July, praised Kneecap and signed off “Free Palestine”, and when a fan asked about Radiohead underneath it he answered at length. My brothers abhor what is going on in Gaza¹

The reply comes after months of pressure on the band. Jonny Greenwood's work with the Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, Tel Aviv concerts included, drew protests that cancelled his UK shows. Thom Yorke made a statement in May after fans had called for one for months, and in June the BDS movement urged a boycott of Radiohead's concerts.

The algorithm feeds division, O'Brien wrote, and for many of his generation posting does not come naturally; he would rather talk in person or within a community, and has held back so as not to add to the doom scrolling. Just because some of us don't choose to post on social media doesn't mean we don't feel the pain¹