A significant cultural boycott, dubbed “No Music for Genocide,” has seen hundreds of artists and record labels remove their music from streaming services in Israel. This movement is a direct protest against the ongoing violence targeting Palestinian people, with participants including well-known acts such as Kneecap, Faye Webster, Japanese Breakfast, Aminé, Massive Attack, Soccer Mommy, Rina Sawayama, MIKE, Primal Scream, and Fontaines D.C.

The initiative is supported by a dedicated website that serves as a hub for educational resources, detailing the full list of over 400 artists and labels that have geo-blocked their catalogs from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music within Israel. The project’s mission statement explicitly outlines its stance, declaring it a “cultural boycott of Israel.” It states that artists and labels have made their music unavailable in response to “Israel’s genocide in Gaza; ethnic cleansing of the Occupied West Bank; apartheid within Israel / ’48; political repression of Pro-Palestine efforts wherever we live; and the music industry’s own ties to weapons and crimes against humanity.”

Proponents of the boycott view this “tangible act” as a crucial step towards honoring Palestinian demands to isolate and delegitimize Israel, particularly as it continues to act “without consequence on the world stage.” The movement draws a parallel to the successful cultural boycotts against apartheid South Africa, asserting that creative work provides agency and power when wielded collectively, adding unified pressure to a growing, global, and interdependent movement.

This cultural protest emerges just weeks before the two-year anniversary of Israel’s war against Hamas, which commenced following the deadly terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. Since the conflict began, over 65,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with countless others enduring conditions of hunger and homelessness. A United Nations commission recently accused Israel of genocide, an allegation the country denies.

While already boasting over 400 names, the “No Music for Genocide” boycott continues to call for more artists who believe in the cause to join and withdraw their music catalogs from Israel. This initiative is the latest in a series of music-related efforts aimed at alleviating suffering in Gaza, following events such as the “Together for Palestine” benefit concert in London, which was overseen by Brian Eno. The movement’s website also provides comprehensive information on how individuals and artists can join or support the boycott.