LONDON

A rapper from the Irish hip hop trio Kneecap left a London court to cheers from supporters, telling the crowd that a terrorism charge against him is a distraction from the real story of Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara​​​, is accused of holding up the yellow flag of Lebanese group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in Kentish Town, north London, on Nov. 21, 2024.

Appearing for a second hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, O hAnnaidh was met by hundreds of fans chanting slogans in solidarity with both the rapper and the Palestinian cause.

Wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh, he pushed through a scrum of photographers to enter the court building alongside his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh.

The Metropolitan Police restricted protest areas outside the court after O hAnnaidh’s first appearance drew very large crowds.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said he would reserve his ruling until 26 September, adding that while he was “conscious and anxious” for a “speedy resolution,” he needed more time to consider the legal arguments.

Speaking outside the court to a raucous welcome from supporters, O hAnnaidh said the case was “a distraction from the real story.”

“We know, unfortunately, this story will end up in the media today, while Israel commits genocide,” he told the crowd.

His bandmate O Caireallain, known as Moglai Bap, urged supporters to keep the focus on Gaza:
“Keep talking about Palestine, keep calling it a genocide—and that’s the real story. This is just another distraction.”

'Kneecap is not the story. Palestine is the story'

On US social media company X, Kneecap said: "We will be back on Sept. 26th for the Court to determine jurisdiction. We have set out why it does not. Kneecap is not the story. Palestine is the story. The British government is aiding a genocide; do not stop calling them out."

The Israeli army has pursued a brutal assault on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, killing at least 62,122 people and injuring more than 156,700 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

A ministry statement said three more people died of starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the famine-related deaths since October 2023 to 269 people, including 112 children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.