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Chants of death to the Israeli armed force at Glastonbury were "terrible" and the BBC and the festival have concerns to address, Wes Streeting has stated, while adding that Israel requires to "get its own house in order".
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The health secretary stated the chanting ought to not have been broadcast to those watching in the house, highlighting that Israelis at a comparable music festival were abducted, killed and raped.

"I thought it's dreadful, to be truthful, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to address about how we saw such a phenomenon on our screens," he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News. "But I also think it's a pretty outrageous publicity stunt, which I don't actually wish to offer too much indulgence to because of that."

He likewise had strong words for Israel, which has condemned the chanting. Streeting stated what individuals need to be discussing in the context of Israel and Gaza is the humanitarian catastrophe in the territory and the truth that Israeli settlers assaulted a Christian town in the West Bank today.

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

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

"I 'd also state to the Israeli embassy, get your own home in order in terms of the conduct of your own people and the inhabitants in the West Bank. So, you know, I think there's a severe point there by the Israeli embassy I take seriously. I wish they 'd take the violence of their own people towards Palestinians more seriously."

Police are examining videos of remarks made by the acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury as the festival 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 stage in chants of "Free, complimentary Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].

Describing himself as a "violent punk", he said: "Sometimes we need to get our message throughout with violence since 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 stages whose views we do not share, and a performer's existence here need to never ever be viewed as an implied endorsement of their opinions and beliefs," the festival said in a declaration.

"However, we are appalled by the declarations made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday.

"Their chants really much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding 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 performed before the Irish rap trio Kneecap, who got in touch with 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 told the crowd on Saturday: "Glastonbury, I'm a totally free male!" He included: "If any person falls down, you have actually got to choose them up. We have actually got to keep each other safe." He thanked the Eavis household, the celebration's organisers, for "holding strong" and permitting their efficiency to proceed.

Avon and Somerset cops said: "We understand the comments made by act upon the West Holts stage at Glastonbury celebration this afternoon. Video proof will be assessed by officers to figure out whether any offences might have been devoted that would need a criminal examination."

The Israeli embassy said it was "deeply disrupted by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric on phase at the Glastonbury festival".

A statement on X said: "Freedom of expression is a foundation of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleaning, it must be called out - particularly when enhanced 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 taking apart of the state of Israel and implicitly require the removal of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before 10s of countless festivalgoers and met applause, it raises serious issues about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.