Massive Attack Threaten Legal Action Over Hamas Leader Footage Accusation

Massive Attack faces legal threats after an Israeli influencer accuses them of incitement for showing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's footage during a concert.

The Controversy Unfolds

Massive Attack, the iconic Bristol-based trip-hop group, has found themselves in hot water after an Israeli influencer publicly accused them of “incitement.” The issue revolves around footage of the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar displayed on a video screen during one of their live performances.

Sinwar, who was the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, was killed last year by Israeli forces in Gaza. He was identified as a key architect behind the October 7, 2023 attack that tragically claimed 1,200 lives and left 251 people taken hostage.

The dispute ignited after Zionist influencer and author Hen Mazzig shared an 11-second clip from a Massive Attack concert, which clearly showed Sinwar’s footage. Mazzig accused the band of encouraging their audience to sympathize with Hamas, stirring up a heated backlash.

Influencer's Accusations

Hen Mazzig's post questioned the band's motives, writing:

“Why is the self proclaimed ‘pro peace’ band @MassiveAttackUK screening footage of Yahya Sinwar during their concert? Sinwar masterminded the slaughter of innocents at a music festival, yet they’re celebrating him at a similar event.

If you’re booking the UK’s largest arena, you should care a lot more about the message you’re spreading. Encouraging 23,000+ people to sympathize with Hamas is more than irresponsible — it’s incitement.”

Massive Attack’s Firm Response

In reply, Massive Attack took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to label the accusations as defamatory, having passed the matter to their legal team. They demanded that Mazzig delete his post and issue an apology, warning of further legal action if he does not comply:

“For obvious, ethical reasons relating to its owner, Massive Attack do not use ‘X’. However, no email contact is presented for the author of this post, which we consider defamatory, & has been passed to the band’s lawyers. @hearnimator must delete the original post & issue an… https://t.co/1TlKO3TBou”

The band followed up with a detailed public statement clarifying the context of the footage shown during their live shows:

“Massive Attack categorically reject any suggestion that footage or reportage used as part of an artistic digital collage in our live show seeks to glorify or celebrate any featured subject.”

They emphasized that their live performances feature a complex digital collage addressing various pressing global issues such as war, insurgency, climate emergencies, corporate tax avoidance, and exploitation of resources in developing nations. The footage includes multiple controversial political figures, both historical and contemporary.

Artistic Context and Misinterpretation

Massive Attack highlighted the particular segment featuring Sinwar alongside scenes from Jean Cocteau’s film Orpheus, creating a "horrified lament" tone portraying the descent into hell by powerful individuals.

“It would be bizarre (and perhaps revealing) that any observer of the live show films would solely home in on the Sinwar/IDF footage and completely overlook all other controversial figures featured in the reportage loops.”

They questioned whether observers would accuse them of glorifying other figures appearing in the footage, such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, J Edgar Hoover, or even Israeli Defence Forces soldiers shown in the same way, underscoring the deliberate removal of context behind the accusations.

“Unfortunately, the only reasonable conclusion is that this level of deliberate context removal, and such a leap of misinterpretation has political motivations.”

The band expressed frustration at the attempts to discredit them, especially as they have consistently spoken out against war crimes, apartheid, and human rights abuses, particularly defending Palestinian rights.

“These spurious attempts will always fail.”

Deleted Post and Band’s Solidarity With Palestine

Though Hen Mazzig deleted his original post, he has yet to issue a direct response or apology.

Massive Attack has been vocal supporters of Palestine for many years and have participated in a cultural boycott of Israel since 1999. Their commitment to the cause was on full display during their headline set at London’s LIDO Festival on June 6, 2025.

During the performance, the band was joined onstage by actor and activist Khalid Abdalla and hip-hop legend Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Powerful Festival Moment

At the festival, Abdalla delivered an impassioned speech calling for peace in the Middle East and an immediate ceasefire, alongside urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza:

“Make some noise if you want your favourite artists to stand up for Palestine. Put your hand on your heart if you have wept over images of children, and mothers, and fathers, over last two years. And you know what? Make some noise – because it means you have a beating heart. That heart is the key to our future.”

He continued, comparing the Palestine Solidarity Movement to historic civil rights movements:

“The Palestine Solidarity Movement is the civil rights movement of our time. It is the anti-apartheid movement of our time. It is the anti-genocide movement of our time.”

Here’s a live performance video of Massive Attack featuring Yasiin Bey at the LIDO Festival in London, 2025:

Tributes and Calls for Peace

Throughout their set, Massive Attack paid solemn tribute to innocent children and journalists who have tragically lost their lives amid conflict. The show featured footage of devastation in Palestine and the imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti, with his powerful message:

“Security will be achieved by one way: by peace.”

They also displayed a poignant quote from Nelson Mandela in 2002:

“What is happening to Barghouti is exactly the same as what happened to me.”

This was followed by the appearance of a Palestinian flag and chants of “Free Palestine” from the crowd — a powerful and provocative statement during these turbulent times.

Recent Manchester Gig & Political Stance

Massive Attack's recent performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live saw them take a firm stand against Barclays’ sponsorship of the venue. The band criticized the bank’s "profoundly unethical corporate identity," citing its investments in arms companies supplying Israel amid ongoing conflicts, and its major role in fossil fuel extraction funding.

In the broader context, as tensions escalate, Israel denies all accusations of war crimes and genocide, which adds to the charged atmosphere surrounding Massive Attack’s political activism.

Final Thoughts: Art, Politics, and Public Perception

The clash between Massive Attack and the Israeli influencer highlights the razor-thin line artists tread when blending political content with art. While some view the band's artistic choices as provocative or sympathetic to certain causes, Massive Attack insists their work is a nuanced, critical collage meant to spark reflection, not endorsement.

“In a highly charged atmosphere, public figures including artists who consistently speak out against Israeli war crimes, apartheid and human rights abuses, and in defense of the Palestinian people are subjected to determined and spurious attempts to discredit us, as a deterrent to us from speaking out.” – Massive Attack

How do you think art should navigate political controversies? Can artists remain neutral, or does their work inevitably become a statement?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What footage sparked the controversy with Massive Attack?
  Massive Attack showed footage of Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader, during one of their concerts, which was interpreted by some as incitement.
• Who is Yahya Sinwar?
  Sinwar was the chairman of Hamas’s political bureau and was killed by Israeli forces in 2024. He was implicated in the deadly attack of October 2023.
• How did Massive Attack respond to accusations against them?
  The band called the accusations defamatory, involved their lawyers, and demanded the influencer remove his post and apologize.
• What is the broader political stance of Massive Attack?
  Massive Attack supports Palestinian rights and has participated in a cultural boycott of Israel since 1999, speaking out against war crimes and apartheid.
• What happened at the London LIDO Festival related to this issue?
  Massive Attack’s set featured solidarity with Palestine, with activists on stage and speeches calling for peace and justice in the region.

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