At Reading Festival's closing day on 30 August, Irish rap trio Kneecap used their set to make pointed political statements, condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urging the crowd to think of Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. The band, performing as a duo with a stand-in DJ, has long championed pro-Palestinian causes, and their remarks continued a pattern of controversy that has followed them, including a recent High Court case linked to an alleged Hezbollah flag display.

During the performance, Mo Chara and Móglai Bap spoke of displacement, colonialism and "forced starvation," before declaring "fuck Benjamin Netanyahu" and calling for a free Palestine. They also led chants against Andy Burnham over comments on Irish unity, referencing their March-released album Fenian and the dismissal of their High Court case by two judges. Other Reading Festival acts, including Loyle Carner, also used their sets to make political statements, this time against the far right.