Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologizes for Macklemore controversy

Philadelphia — Ed Sheeran, the British pop star, apologized on Saturday for his handling of the recent controversy involving rapper Macklemore's removal as an opening act. Sheeran decried Israel's treatment of residents in Gaza as "unjustifiable," stating that he had to make difficult decisions and had made mistakes. He expressed his apologies to the audience in Philadelphia, where he performed for the first time since Macklemore was removed from the concert tour.

Sheeran acknowledged the horrific October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis but also condemned Israel's subsequent war, which he called "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate." He further criticized the systemic injustice in the West Bank, where Israel's right-wing coalition government has facilitated a massive expansion of Jewish settlements. This marked a significant shift from Sheeran's initial statement on the matter.