U2 Frontman Bono Compares Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir to Heinrich Himmler

Bono, the lead singer of the rock band U2, has issued strong criticism against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Bono compared Ben-Gvir's rhetoric regarding Gazan residents to that of Heinrich Himmler, a leading Nazi official, suggesting the minister portrays Gazans as "not worthy of living... not even human beings."

Bono also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of tolerating Ben-Gvir's presence in the government solely to maintain his coalition's stability. These remarks come as Bono releases a new song, "The Tears of Things," which he describes as an attempt to understand the current situation through Jewish history and ethics.

While Bono stated he stands with Israel, he also expressed support for a Palestinian state and urged Israel to compromise. He lamented that Ben-Gvir "casts a shadow on the religion" of his Jewish friends.

This is not the first time U2 has voiced criticism regarding Israel's actions. In August, the band released a statement expressing deep concern over the war's conduct, particularly the blockade of humanitarian aid and plans for military control of Gaza City. They emphasized that while not political experts, they wanted to be clear about their stance.

In that earlier statement, the band directly condemned Netanyahu's government, stating it "deserves our absolute and unequivocal condemnation." Bono accused Netanyahu and his "far-right government" of unjustified cruelty towards Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, predating the October 7th attacks. He also criticized the government's internal conduct, citing perceived corruption and disregard for the law as entering "uncharted territory."