Bob Vylan have released a new statement after their controversial Glastonbury set.
During their performance at the U.K. festival on Saturday, the punk-rap duo drew criticism after leading a crowd in a chant of "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)".
In a statement shared on Instagram on Tuesday, the duo insisted that the furore was "a distraction from the story" amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
"Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace," the statement began. "Last week it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band."
It continued, "We are not for the death of Jews or Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine."
The duo went on to argue that the attention on them distracts from more pressing concerns.
"The government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing? Feed the starving?" they continued. "The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction."
Bob Vylan concluded the post by claiming that they are being "targeted for speaking up" and urging fans to make their voices heard.
Avon and Somerset police have opened a formal investigation into the duo's comments.
Since their performance, Bob Vylan have also been dropped by their talent agency and had their U.S. visas revoked.
