Ed Sheeran speaks on Gaza in concert after Macklemore controversy

British pop sensation Ed Sheeran addressed the Israel-Palestine conflict during a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday, following a controversy surrounding rapper Macklemore's removal from the tour. The 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed over 1,200 people, and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza, resulting in more than 70,000 deaths, were described by Sheeran as "horrific" and "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," respectively.

He also condemned the "systemic injustice" in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli government is expanding Jewish settlements, a move the United Nations has called a "flagrant violation of international law."

Sheeran, who previously stated that his concert audiences "do not expect a political forum," acknowledged that he had to make difficult decisions and expressed regret for any mistakes. The singer's tour faced backlash after Macklemore was dropped as a supporting act after making pro-Palestinian comments on stage. Several other acts followed suit, leaving Sheeran without an opening act.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Lincoln Financial Field before Sheeran's performance, waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Free, free Palestine." Among them was 18-year-old Brandon Ateke, who vowed not to attend the concert and instead join the protest to highlight the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has called for a boycott of Sheeran's world tour.