Palestine activists slam US band Maroon 5's Israel concert

Maroon 5 played a concert in Tel Aviv on Monday night, drawing criticism from pro-Palestinian activists and organisations.

The US-based group played for a crowd of 55,000 people at Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon, as part of the group's Middle East spring tour, where they also played in Giza, Egypt and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi.

The group is set to perform a second show on Tuesday night.

Hi @maroon5 @adamlevine

Shameful you are going to occupied Palestine for a concert where literally a couple of miles away, Palestinians are being assaulted, detained and murdered with cold blood.

News flash: Tal Al Rabea not Tel Aviv you ignorant bunch. Bye

— Natalie (@Natalalalalie) May 7, 2022

The band arrived in Israel on Sunday following a show in the UAE, while lead singer Adam Levine was seen visiting the Buraq Wall- also known as the Western Wall- in occupied east Jerusalem, according to The Times of Israel.

During the concert, Levine was heard saying "We’ve never been to Israel, we’ve never been to Tel Aviv. We have to tell you, this place is incredible," in a clip circulating online.

Palestinians and Palestine supporters have called on American pop band Maroon 5 to cancel their performance in apartheid Israel in a garden erected on the ruins of Palestinian village of Al-Jarisha, which was ethnically cleansed in 1948. pic.twitter.com/3yNaoJ9Q0S

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) April 3, 2022

The show was widely condemned by pro-Palestinian activists, who decried the band’s performances taking place at the same time as Israeli forces detain, assault and kill Palestinians.

On Sunday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians- one 17-year-old and one 27-year-old inside an Israeli settlement and checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.

Israel is also continuing its brutalisation of Palestinians protesting settlements, as well as worshippers in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, inhabitants of the besieged Gaza Strip struggle keeping themselves afloat amid decreasing wages and rising unemployment, as Israel continues its 15-year blockade of the strip.

Activists also highlighted that the gig was taking place atop of the Palestinian village of Al-Jarisha, which was ethnically cleansed during the Nakba in 1948.

Following the initial announcement of concerts in February, Maroon 5 has been urged by movements such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) to cancel the shows.

The non-violent movement regularly urges the boycott of Israeli goods and further sanctions, including the cancellation of performances in Israel by music acts, as a means to promote Palestinian statehood and self-determination.

BDS seeks to put an end to Israel's brutal occupation of the West Bank by pressuring Israel into adhering to international law.