Palestinian ambassador leads ‘Free Palestine’ chant at Kneecap concert in Mexico

• Palestinian Ambassador to Mexico Nadya Layla Rasheed addressed the crowd during the Irish rap group’s first Mexico City concert.
• The audience joined Rasheed in chanting “¡Viva Palestina libre!” as Palestinian and Irish flags featured onstage.
• The performance continued Kneecap’s outspoken support for Palestine, following similar messages at Coachella and Glastonbury.

Irish rap group Kneecap brought its support for Palestine to the stage during its first Mexico City concert on Thursday, with Palestinian Ambassador to Mexico Nadya Layla Rasheed addressing the audience and leading chants calling for a free Palestine.

The concert took place at the Pabellón Oeste venue at the Palacio de los Deportes, where Irish and Palestinian flags featured onstage and messages of solidarity with Palestine appeared on the main screen before the performance began, according to Mexican newspaper La Jornada.

After performing “An Ra,” the trio invited Rasheed to speak. The ambassador called for an end to the violence in Palestine and highlighted the role of young people in driving social change before leading the crowd in chanting “¡Viva Palestina libre!”, Spanish for “Long live a free Palestine.”

Kneecap subsequently shared the moment on social media, writing: “A message from our gig in Mexico City just now by Nadya Layla Rasheed, Palestinian Ambassador to Mexico. PALESTINA LIBRE! PALESTINA LIBRE! PALESTINA LIBRE! ”

The concert featured more than 20 songs, with the crowd also responding to the group’s Irish-language rap and political messaging.

Kneecap’s legacy of Palestine activism

The Mexico City performance follows a series of high-profile interventions by Kneecap in support of Palestinians, making Palestine solidarity a recurring feature of the group’s live shows.

At Coachella in April 2025, the trio displayed messages accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and criticizing the US government for supplying ‘Israel’ with weapons. The performance attracted widespread attention and political backlash.

At Glastonbury later that year, Kneecap again used its set to voice support for Palestine, despite criticism from British political figures. The group has continued to raise the issue during its international performances.

The band’s activism is closely linked to its wider political identity and its advocacy for the Irish language. During its visit to Mexico, the members also took part in a discussion on language as resistance alongside Rasheed and Ireland’s ambassador to Mexico, Ruairí de Búrca, examining links between cultural identity, colonialism and the preservation of minority languages. 

A message from our gig in Mexico City just now by Nadya Layla Rasheed, Palestinian Ambassador to Mexico. PALESTINA LIBRE! 🇵🇸 PALESTINA LIBRE! 🇵🇸 PALESTINA LIBRE! 🇵🇸 https://t.co/qc5Cj9Ml5y

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) October 16, 2026