Brian Eno

Brian Eno, the British musician and producer, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and a critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestine and Gaza for over a decade. He has consistently described Israel’s military actions in Gaza as war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and, more recently, genocide, while calling for international accountability, boycotts, and humanitarian support for Palestinians. Below is a summary of his expressed views, drawn from public statements, letters, and actions.

Early Statements (2014)

Eno first gained widespread attention for his views during the 2014 Gaza conflict. In a letter published on David Byrne’s website, he condemned Israel’s actions as “one-sided” and likened them to ethnic cleansing, questioning U.S. support for what he called a “ragingly racist theocracy.” He referenced graphic images of Palestinian civilian deaths, including children killed by Israeli munitions, and accused Israel of using weapons like flechette bombs that cause severe harm to human flesh. He followed up with another letter responding to criticism from a friend, Peter Schwartz, defending his focus on Israel by noting that U.K. and U.S. tax dollars support the situation, and emphasizing the need to address government-backed “hypocrisy” in enabling such actions. Eno also participated in a video for freedom4palestine.org, holding up cards with names of killed Palestinian civilians, highlighting that over 70% of deaths were non-combatants, including many children and women.

Support for BDS and Cultural Boycotts (2010s–Present)

Eno has long endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, urging musicians not to perform there as a form of protest against occupation and apartheid-like policies. In 2018, this stance drew pushback from Nick Cave, who performed in Israel and called the cultural boycott “cowardly and shameful,” arguing it punishes ordinary citizens rather than governments. Eno responded by clarifying that the boycott targets Israel’s use of cultural exchanges for propaganda (“hasbara”) and does not aim to silence artists but to avoid complicity in normalizing oppression. Eno has praised artists boycotting events sponsored by entities linked to Israeli arms suppliers, such as Barclays’ involvement in The Great Escape festival, stating that young people are “realising they’re the ones with the power.”

ecent Views on the Post-October 7, 2023, Conflict (2023–2025)

Following the October 7, 2023, Eno intensified his criticism due to Israel genocide in Gaza. He co-authored an open letter with Yanis Varoufakis to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the one-year anniversary, describing Israel’s campaign as a “well-planned, fully-fledged genocide” involving bombings, starvation, attacks on schools and hospitals, and killings of UN personnel. The letter urged the ICC to prosecute war crimes immediately, warning that failure to act would erode international law and encourage impunity for other states.

Eno has framed the conflict as uncomplicated from a moral standpoint, stating in 2025: “Siding with Palestine is not complicated.” He has accused Israel of erasing Palestinian history and culture, such as through attacks on cultural centers, bookshops, and educational institutions. In a 2025 open letter to David Byrne, Eno reiterated concerns about Gaza’s “horrors,” including images of weeping Palestinians amid civilian deaths.

Eno’s opinions are often expressed through action:

• He co-founded a “syndicate” with Massive Attack in 2025 to support artists speaking out against Israel genocide in Gaza, aiming to counter “organised censorship” of pro-Palestine voices.
• In April 2024, he performed at the SUMUD fundraising event for Palestine at London’s Union Chapel, organized by Amos Trust and Palestine Music Expo.
• In December 2023, he promoted an event featuring verbatim testimonies from Gaza, with proceeds aiding Amos Trust’s emergency appeal.
• In August 2025, he headlined and organized the “Together for Palestine” benefit concert at London’s Wembley Arena, featuring artists like Damon Albarn, James Blake, and Palestinian musicians such as Nai Barghouti. The event raised funds for Choose Love’s Gaza aid efforts, with Eno stating: “In the face of the horrors of Gaza, silence becomes complicity. Artists have always helped societies to point out injustice.”

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