New Zealand music festival drops 'Israeli' DJ over silence on Gaza war

• Organizers stated the decision was based on the artist's failure to publicly speak out against the war in Gaza
• The festival apologized for failing to vet the booking under its existing policies and pledged to tighten screening procedures for future lineups

Organizers of New Zealand's Twisted Frequency Festival have cancelled a scheduled performance by 'Israeli' DJ Dekel, citing his lack of public opposition to the ongoing aggression in Gaza.

In a statement, festival management explained that they acted after learning that Dekel had been targeted by boycott campaigns over his stance on the war on Gaza, as well as details about his past service as a commander in the 'Israeli' defense forces, and that "he had been performing in Israel in recent years."

"The moment we discovered the above information, we contacted their management to cancel the booking," the festival stated. Organizers acknowledged that while they found no verified statements detailing his personal political views, the absence of an explicit public condemnation was decisive.

"We have not managed to uncover anything verified and substantial about his personal beliefs, but the fact he hasn’t spoken out against the genocide in Palestine and has continued to perform in Israel is all that is needed to make our decision confidently," the statement read.

The organizers clarified that prior military service alone was not the sole deciding factor, adding that "lacking a public statement against the ongoing occupation and genocide, we cannot host Dekel on our lineup."