Bono Compares Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir's Gaza Rhetoric to Himmler's

U2 frontman Bono has sharply criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, comparing Ben-Gvir's rhetoric regarding Gaza residents to that of Heinrich Himmler. Bono also commented on Ben-Gvir's continued role in the government, suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs him to maintain his coalition majority.

The remarks were made in the context of a discussion about Bono's new song, "The Tears of Things," which explores Jewish history and the events leading to the war in Gaza. Bono stated, "It's an attempt to understand what's happening in a world where we've never needed the moral force of Judaism more than now. And yet, what's happening?"

Bono reiterated his condemnation of the Hamas attack on October 7, calling it a "heinous act and desecration." He then addressed Ben-Gvir's statements about Gaza, with Rolling Stone reporting Bono claimed Ben-Gvir said, "There are people there who are not worthy of living. They don't need to live. They are not even human beings."

"As someone who has stood with Israel, and still stands with it, as I stand with the Palestinian people and support them having a Palestine, there's all this semantic debate about genocide," Bono said. "It's a legal term, and the ICC and ICJ will ultimately decide. But here's a man, a minister in the government, and he's not put in jail. And this man, Netanyahu, says, 'Well, I need him to keep my majority.'"

Bono expressed his dismay, noting that many people who have broadened his horizons, changed his mind, made him laugh, broken his heart with their songs, and lifted his spirit are Jewish. "And this man casts a shadow on their faith. It's simply outrageous," he stated. Bono also urged Israel to "fix the situation" and "fix what happened in the Nakba through a compromise that some of these people don't want to make, and do the right thing. Justice is at the heart of Judaism."

This is not Bono's first public statement on Israel and the war. Two days after the October 7 massacre, he dedicated U2's song "Pride (In the Name of Love)" to the victims of the Nova music festival, saying he was singing for "our brothers and sisters." While continuing to condemn the Hamas attack, he also criticized Netanyahu and his government.