Ed Sheeran says what is happening in Gaza is 'catastrophic, unjustifiable'

Ed Sheeran says what is happening in Gaza is 'catastrophic, unjustifiable'

Pop Star Ed Sheeran has said what is happening in Gaza is “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate” as he opened his solo concert in the US city of Philadelphia.

Sheeran also said he was “appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine,” describing the suffering caused by the war as a “human tragedy,” while explaining that he has generally sought to keep his concerts focused on “unity, joy, escapism, love” rather than his own political views.

It was Sheeran's first show since he dropped US rapper Macklemore from his US tour after Macklemore called for a “Free Palestine”. Sheeran said he could not keep Macklemore after stadium owners refused to let him perform.

Sheeran drew flak for the move and his opening acts and his own band have quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

“I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division,” he said.

“But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore. What happened in Israel and at the Nome Museum Festival on 7 Oct was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable, and disproportionate. Our hearts can be broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, children’s lives and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”