Bono Slams Hamas and Netanyahu in Powerful Ivors Speech

At the Ivor Novello Awards in London last Thursday (May 22), U2 frontman Bono used his acceptance speech for the prestigious Fellowship of the Ivors Academy to address the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Speaking at Grosvenor House, he urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages and end the war. He also called for Israel to be “released from Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts,” his first public criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

Bono, long known for his activism, praised aid workers as “the best of us” and expressed exhaustion with the ongoing violence, saying, “God, you must be so tired of us, children of Abraham, in the rubble of our certainties. Children in the rubble of our revenge.”

U2 followed with an acoustic performance of Sunday Bloody Sunday, a 1983 song inspired by the Northern Ireland Troubles, which Bono framed as a plea for peace in today’s conflicts.

Bono’s approach has been praised by some, like Sharon Osbourne, who called him a “master” at expressing opinions without inciting violence, contrasting his style with that of the Irish rap group Kneecap, who faced scrutiny for pro-Palestine statements at Coachella in April 2025. Osbourne highlighted Bono’s ability to advocate for peace while maintaining neutrality

Bono has a history of commenting on the Israel-Palestine conflict while attempting to maintain a balanced stance. In October 2023, days after the Nova Festival massacre, Bono dedicated U2’s song Pride (In the Name of Love) to the victims during a Las Vegas performance.

He expressed solidarity with the victims, saying, “In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace.”

This drew criticism from pro-Palestine advocates, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, who called Bono’s remarks “disgusting” for focusing on Israeli victims without addressing Palestinian casualties.

As U2 works on a new album described as sounding “like the future,” Bono’s speech reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for peace. Obviously, for the millions only interested in hearing about Gaza's suffering, his approach to the conflict is unacceptable.