Concert

“I fell in love with Israel the first time I went there,” Gaynor said while receiving the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. award the following year, presented annually by the Consulate-General of Israel.

The announcement for the November 7 concert comes on the heels of a rapid sell-out of his first scheduled performance on November 4.

Thousands of protesters bring traffic to a halt across Jerusalem, on Highway 4 • Demonstrators disrupt Shas election campaign conference in Modi'in Illit • Rioters attack light rail construction

The star has performed in Israel before, and last July he released "We Will Dance Again," a song inspired by the October 7 massacre and the Nova music festival.

Banks’ relationship with the country has been highly publicized, erratic, and deeply polarized: Banks first stood up to the BDS movement in 2018 ahead of an early Tel Aviv show.

At 29, I flew to London to see the singer whose music had followed me through love, grief and growing up. At The O2, I understood why her voice had stayed with me.

"Jewish patrons should not be subjected to this propaganda," StopAntisemitism wrote on X/Twitter, sharing a video of the incident.

The lineup included an opening set by DJ Laroz, followed by Beit Habubot, a major Israeli pop-rock band, and Shotei Hanevuah, known for blending reggae, dub, hip-hop, and Middle Eastern melodies. 

The Israel Festival event, titled “From Captivity to the Lawn: Stories and Songs,” drew 3,000 attendees, including bereaved families and other former captives.

Several members had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated, according to the band.