What is Hezbollah? Kneecap’s Mo Chara charged with alleged terrorism offence

Kneecap's Mo Chara, born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Liam O’Hanna in English), has been charged with terrorism offence by the British Metropolitan Police for allegedly displaying the flag of the Lebenese Shia paramilitary group Hezbolla during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London on November 21, 2024. per BBC.

Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the U.K. and is also considered a terrorist organisation in the United States. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) website, Hezbollah was formed during the Lebanese Civil War in 1982. The group functions as one of the main political groups in Lebanon currently, with significant influence in the country's south, near the border with Israel.

The organisation was involved in significant fighting against the Israeli Defence Forces, in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, suffering severe casualties and being weakened due to a pager attack by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, as well as the fall of the Syrian regime under Bashar Al Assad, according to reports.

The conflict ultimately resulted in ceasefire, with a reduced Hezbollah required to withdraw 30 kilometers away from the Israeli border, with Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement monitered by the U.S. and the Lebanon's actual military.

This is not the first instance of Kneecap facing troubles over their support of Palestine and their protest against Israel and its actions in Gaza. The band has had multiple performances in the U.K. canceled in the past weeks, and has previously denied supporting violent organistions such as Hezbollah:

Kneecap releases statement in response to Mo Chara 'terror offence' charge

Kneecap has released a statement in response to the Metropolitan Police's filing of an alleged terror offence charge against Mo Chara. The statement says:

"14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. The Genocide is."

Kneecap's statement continues:

"As they profit from genocide, they use 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their 'crown court,' instead a court that doesn't even have a jury. What's the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us from speaking to young people across the world."

Kneecap's statement adds:

"To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of International law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification."

The hip-hop trio continue in the statement:

"The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit of War Crimes. We are on the right side of the history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine."

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Kneecap has been expressing support for the Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere for more than a year now, with the most recent example being their display of a 'F**k Israel, Free Palestine' flag during their performance at Coachella Festival in April 2025.

The band is not the only Irish music group to express their support Palestine. Other Irish acts such as The Murder Capital and Fontaines D.C have also expressed support for Palestine.

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