British trip-hop band Massive Attack reported that its members were detained by police in Singapore after a concert on July 29, 2026, during which a Palestinian flag was unfurled on stage. The performance took place at the Star Theatre, where large sections of the crowd chanted “Free Palestine” before and after the show.

In a statement published on Instagram on August 3, the band expressed pride in making an “impromptu expression” of support for Palestine alongside their fans, who they said “clearly felt a moral imperative to show solidarity with the people of Palestine.” They added, “We did not imagine that merely holding up the flag of a sovereign state recognised by 157 countries would violate any law.”

Following the concert, Massive Attack said the entire band was detained, isolated, and separately questioned by police, with some members subjected to hotel room searches and temporary passport confiscation.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Palestine-related activism. In April 2026, Massive Attack’s frontman Del Naja was among over 500 people arrested by British police during a protest against the banning of Palestine Action, an organization classified as “terrorist” by the United Kingdom.

Additionally, in April, a Singaporean court fined three women for organizing a pro-Palestine walk two years prior, during which letters were delivered to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urging Singapore to cut ties with Israel.

This event has led to Singapore banning Massive Attack from future performances in the country.

Sources