American rapper Macklemore has concluded his three-date Free Palestine tour with a sold-out performance in London, bringing together musicians, activists and campaigners to raise support for Palestinians and draw attention to the war in Gaza.
The final concert took place at OVO Arena Wembley on Friday, featuring British singer Paloma Faith, Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis, climate activist Greta Thunberg and Arab Barghouti, the son of imprisoned Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti.
Addressing the audience, Macklemore said he had found it increasingly difficult to remain silent about the war as images of the devastation in Gaza continued to emerge.
“I was scrolling, scrolling, scrolling and seeing the horrific, unimaginable catastrophe that was happening in front of our eyes,” he said.
“At a certain point, it was more uncomfortable for me to stay silent than to say something,” he added, arguing that speaking out should not be regarded as an act of exceptional courage.
The audience greeted the rapper with chants of “Free Palestine” before he performed “Hind’s Hall,” a protest song honoring Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
His set also included popular tracks such as “Thrift Shop,” “Same Love,” “Glorious” and “Can’t Hold Us.”
The three concerts, held in Dublin, Paris and London, sold out shortly after tickets went on sale. Proceeds were designated for 12 organizations supporting Palestinians, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Institute for Middle East Understanding.
One of the evening's most prominent moments came when Arab Barghouti addressed the audience about his father's imprisonment by Israel.
“Israel imprisoned my father 24 years ago so that his people and the world would forget about him,” he said. “But what the oppressors don't understand, you cannot imprison hope.”
Thunberg, who opened the London event, said charitable donations and benefit concerts alone would not end the occupation, calling for political action alongside public solidarity.
“The occupation will not end by philanthropy and slogans,” she said.
Faith also spoke about the difficulties of publicly supporting Palestinians, saying that the risks of speaking out were outweighed by the consequences of remaining silent.
“But it’s not as scary as what would happen if we didn’t do it,” she said.
She questioned why children in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be considered less deserving of safety than children elsewhere.
“Every child deserves to have their mother hold them in their arms and say, ‘It’s going to be safe,’” she said.
The tour opened in Dublin on October 26, with performances by Irish singer Hozier, Belfast rap group Kneecap and folk band Beoga, among others. The second concert took place at Paris's Accor Arena on October 29, featuring Aurora, Pomme, Portugal. The Man and several other artists.
In Dublin, Macklemore described the call for a “Free Palestine” as neither divisive nor a call for hatred, but an appeal to recognize shared humanity.
In Paris, he told the audience the concerts were about “collective liberation” and dignity for all people.
The tour followed Macklemore's removal from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US Loop tour in September after he called for a “Free Palestine” during a performance in New Jersey.
Closing the London concert, Macklemore told the audience: “I believe that saying something is human. And those children in Gaza are our children. There is no separation.”
Macklemore has repeatedly censured Israel over its genocide against Palestinians. He has vowed to fight for Palestine until his “last breath.”
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