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Irish rap trio Kneecap is standing firm on their stance on Palestine. In a statement issued on Instagram, the musical group said they have been targeted in a “coordinated smear campaign” every since their statements on Palestine at Coachella. Undeterred, the group says they will not stay silent.

The statement was posted on Instagram on Friday night and highlights that the attacks on the group come after their highlighting of the Palestinian cause.

“Since our statements at Coachella — exposing the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people — we have faced a coordinated smear campaign. For over a year, we have used our shows to call out the British and Irish governments’ complicity in war crimes.

“The recent attacks against us, largely emanating from the US, are based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods. We are taking action against several of these malicious efforts,” read the statement.

“Let us be absolutely clear. The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple — we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing. Those attacking us want to silence criticism of a mass slaughter. They weaponise false accusations of antisemitism to distract, confuse and provide cover for genocide,” it read.

“We do not give a f*ck what religion anyone practices. We know there are massive numbers of Jewish people outraged by this genocide, just as we are. What we care about is that governments of the countries we perform in are enabling some of the most horrific crimes of our lifetimes — and we will not stay silent.

“No media spin will change this. Our only concern is the Palestinian people. The 20,000 murdered children and counting. The young people at our gigs see through the lies. They stand on the side of humanity and justice. And that gives us great hope.”

The post also included a video of their manager talking about the situation in Gaza.

A video of Kneecap’s November concert is currently being assessed by the UK’s counter terror police to determine whether police investigation may be required after they were accused of shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during the performance. The video was shared on X by Danny Morris from the Jewish security charity Community Security Trust.

Earlier, the band, comprising members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, criticised Coachella’s official live stream for censoring their pro-Palestinian and anti-establishment messaging during their performance at the festival’s opening.

Addressing the incident online, the band said, “Not the only thing that was cut — our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either,” the group wrote on X the next day, accompanied by a Palestinian flag emoji. “Back next Friday, Coachella, and it’ll be sorted.”