Ed Sheeran says what is happening in Gaza is 'catastrophic, unjustifiable'

Pop star Ed Sheeran expressed his strong condemnation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, calling it "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate." During his solo concert in Philadelphia, USA, Sheeran spoke out against the violence between Israel and Palestine, describing the situation as a "human tragedy" and highlighting the suffering inflicted on civilians, including children.

This was Sheeran's first performance since he removed rapper Macklemore from his U.S. tour following Macklemore's call for "Free Palestine." The stadium owners had refused to allow Macklemore to perform, leading the pop star to drop him from the tour. In response, Sheeran's opening acts and his own band withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

Sheeran had previously stated that he tries to avoid being a political commentator, aiming to create music and shows centered on unity rather than division. However, he acknowledged that the recent events in Gaza, including the attack on the Museum of Tolerance on October 7, were horrific and exacerbated centuries of Jewish suffering. He emphasized that the scale of devastation and loss of life, as well as the systemic injustice in the West Bank, cannot be ignored.