Bono likens Ben-Gvir's Gaza rhetoric to Himmler's; Ben-Gvir answers with AI video
In a Rolling Stone UK interview, U2's Bono criticised Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over remarks about Gazans, and the magazine said he compared them to Himmler. Ben-Gvir replied on X with a post and an AI-style video about Gazans moving to Ireland.
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The story, neutrally told
U2 singer Bono criticised Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in an interview with Rolling Stone, and the magazine said he compared the minister's rhetoric about Gaza to that of Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler. The Irish TimesLC “The magazine said Bono compared “his [Ben-Gvir’s] rhetoric about Gaza ... to Himmler”.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ JNSR “U2 frontman Bono drew parallels between Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Nazi mass murderer Heinrich Himler” Read at JNS ↗ The remarks at issue were Ben-Gvir's comments on a podcast that there are people in Gaza who are "not worthy of life". The Irish TimesLC ““There are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.”” Read at The Irish Times ↗ JNS notes the interview does not quote Bono naming Himmler directly; the comparison is the interviewer's wording. JNSR “The interview does not quote Bono, whose real name is Paul David Hewson, as directly naming Himmler” Read at JNS ↗
Bono said a minister "not being locked up" was outrageous and that Netanyahu needed him to keep his majority; JNS adds that he reportedly called for Ben-Gvir's arrest. The Irish TimesLC “here’s a guy, a minister in the government, and he’s not being locked up” Read at The Irish Times ↗ JNSR “Bono reportedly called for Ben-Gvir to be arrested.” Read at JNS ↗ JNS says Ben-Gvir made the podcast remark last month on the show of Rom Braslavski, a former hostage, and that he clarified he meant Gazans implicated in terrorism. JNSR “Ben-Gvir clarified in the interview that he meant Gazans implicated in terrorism.” Read at JNS ↗ Ben-Gvir replied on X, accusing critics of hypocrisy and urging Bono to help Gazans leave for Ireland. The Irish TimesLC “If you truly care about the residents of Gaza, help them leave for Ireland.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
He also posted an AI-generated video showing Gazans leaving for Ireland. The Irish TimesLC “He also posted an AI-generated video appearing to show Gazan refugees leaving the war-torn strip for Ireland” Read at The Irish Times ↗ JNSR “a music video which appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence” Read at JNS ↗ Bono also condemned the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 as "an unholy offence". The Irish TimesLC “Bono condemned the Hamas attack on October 7th, referring to it as an “unholy offence”” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents a row between Bono and Ben-Gvir, leading with the comparison to Himmler and Ben-Gvir's 'angry' reply.
- Emphasis
- Ben-Gvir's quoted comments on Gazans and his X response and video.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Ben-Gvir's clarification that he meant terrorists, or that Bono did not name Himmler directly in the quoted text.
- Charged language
- “angry X post”“war-torn strip”
- For example
-
“Itamar Ben-Gvir retorts with angry X post and AI-generated video showing Gazan refugees leaving the war-torn strip for Ireland” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Questions the basis of the comparison, calling the quotes disputed and noting Bono did not name Himmler in the interview text.
- Emphasis
- Ben-Gvir's clarification that he referred to terrorists, the context of the podcast, and Bono's stance on Israel and Hamas.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Ben-Gvir's written X reply.
- Charged language
- “Citing disputed quotes”“Nazi mass murderer”
- For example
-
“Citing disputed quotes, the singer questioned why the minister remains free” — JNS
What every side reports
- Bono's interview with Rolling Stone said Ben-Gvir's Gaza rhetoric resembled Himmler's.
- Ben-Gvir's podcast remark that some people in Gaza are 'not worthy of life' prompted the criticism.
- Ben-Gvir replied on X with an AI-generated video about Gazans going to Ireland.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Bono himself named Himmler
- Left
- Says Bono said Ben-Gvir's comments were similar to Himmler's.
- Right
- Says the interview does not quote Bono naming Himmler; the comparison is the interviewer's wording.
-
Meaning of Ben-Gvir's remark
- Left
- Reports the quote without qualification.
- Right
- Says Ben-Gvir clarified he meant Gazans implicated in terrorism, though it was widely reported as a call for indiscriminate killing.
Bono person
Says Ben-Gvir's words horrified him, that a minister making them is not locked up, and that he stands by Israel and the Palestinians.
“It’s just outrageous,” Bono said in the interview.” — The Irish Times
Itamar Ben-Gvir person
Accuses critics of hypocrisy and says Gazans want to emigrate to Ireland; earlier said his remark referred to terrorists.
“There is no limit to the hypocrisy of the world’s supporters of terrorism.” — The Irish Times
“Kill them one by one.”” — JNS
Left1 article
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Bono compares Israeli minister’s comments on Gaza to Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler
Neutral Reports the row in brief, quoting both Bono and Ben-Gvir's reply.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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JNSR ·
U2's Bono likens Ben-Gvir's rhetoric to that of Himmler
Critical Casts the Himmler comparison as resting on disputed quotes and stresses Ben-Gvir's clarification.
- 30 Sep 11:07 First JNSR U2's Bono likens Ben-Gvir's rhetoric to that of Himmler
- 30 Sep 19:44 +8h 38m The Irish TimesLC Bono compares Israeli minister’s comments on Gaza to Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.