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Chants of death to the Israeli armed force at Glastonbury were "dreadful" and the BBC and the festival have concerns to address, Wes Streeting has said, while adding that Israel needs to "get its own house in order".

The health secretary said the chanting need to not have actually been relayed to those enjoying in your home, highlighting that Israelis at a comparable music celebration were abducted, killed and raped.

"I thought it's dreadful, to be truthful, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have actually got concerns to address about how we saw such a phenomenon on our screens," he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News. "But I also believe it's a pretty shameless publicity stunt, which I do not really wish to provide excessive extravagance to for that reason."

He also had strong words for Israel, which has actually condemned the chanting. Streeting said what individuals should be talking about in the context of Israel and Gaza is the humanitarian catastrophe in the area and the fact that Israeli inhabitants assaulted a Christian village in the West Bank this week.

"All life is sacred. And I find it pretty revolting we've got to a state in this dispute where you're supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it's a football group," he stated.

Inquired about the Israel embassy's action to the chants at Glastonbury, he stated: "Well, I 'd say sort of two things in reaction to those words from the Israeli embassy. Firstly, I do believe that if I take the equivalent of the war in Ukraine, I'm indisputable about which side of that war I'm on. I want Ukraine to win. Would I be celebrating or chanting for the death of Russian soldiers? No, I wish to see an end to the war, and I wish to see an end to the dispute.

"I 'd also state to the Israeli embassy, get your own home in order in terms of the conduct of your own residents and the settlers in the West Bank. So, you understand, I believe there's a major point there by the Israeli embassy I take seriously. I wish they 'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously."

Police are examining videos of remarks made by the acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury as the celebration enters its third day.

On Saturday the rapper Bobby Vylan, of the rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds at the festival's West Holts stage in chants of "Free, Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].
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Describing himself as a "violent punk", he said: "Sometimes we need to get our message throughout with violence since that's the only language some people speak, sadly."

Glastonbury organisers said on Sunday that the act had actually crossed a line. "With almost 4,000 efficiencies at Glastonbury 2025, there will undoubtedly be artists and speakers appearing on our phases whose views we do not share, and a performer's presence here should never be viewed as an indirect endorsement of their opinions and beliefs," the festival said in a statement.

"However, we are horrified by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan the other day.

"Their chants extremely much crossed a line and we are urgently advising everyone associated with the production of the celebration that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence."

Bob Vylan carried out before the Irish rap trio Kneecap, who called on fans to reveal up at Westminster magistrates to support the band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, referred to as Mo Chara, who was charged with a terrorism offense for holding a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November.
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Ó hAnnaidh informed the crowd on Saturday: "Glastonbury, I'm a complimentary man!" He added: "If anybody falls down, you have actually got to choose them up. We've got to keep each other safe." He thanked the Eavis family, the celebration's organisers, for "holding strong" and enabling their performance to proceed.

Avon and Somerset cops stated: "We are conscious of the remarks made by act upon the West Holts phase at Glastonbury celebration this afternoon. Video evidence will be evaluated by officers to identify whether any offenses might have been dedicated that would need a criminal examination."

The Israeli embassy said it was "deeply interrupted by the inflammatory and despiteful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury celebration".

A statement on X stated: "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleaning, it should be called out - especially when enhanced by public figures on prominent platforms.

"Chants such as 'Death to the IDF,' and 'From the river to the sea' are mottos that promote for the dismantling of the state of Israel and implicitly require the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are provided before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and fulfilled with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.