French Lawmakers Seek to Block Israeli Singer’s Performance

A political firestorm is brewing in Paris as teh La France Insoumise (LFI) group in the National Assembly is actively petitioning for the cancellation of Israeli singer Eyal Golan’s scheduled concert at the Dôme de Paris on May 20th. The group publicly announced their request via X, citing inflammatory remarks allegedly made by Golan in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Accusations of Incitement and Calls for Extermination

LFI’s press release accuses Golan of making very violent remarks towards the Palestinians, specifically alleging that he called for the extermination of the palestinian people. The group claims Golan stated on a public platform that it was necessary to eliminate Gaza and not leave a living soul there. These statements were reportedly documented by outlets such as The Times of Israel.

Adding fuel to the fire, an Instagram post from October 7, 2023, attributed to Golan, allegedly referred to the entire Gaza Strip as a single major target, with the added statement: Gaza must burn. Golan currently has over a million followers on Instagram.

🔴📄eyal golan should not come to sing the praises of the genocide in Paris

We ask the prefect for the immediate ban on this event.

We call for a large mobilization to prevent this event from being held. pic.twitter.com/y0c8xBh7Gn

— La france Insoumise #NFP at the Assembly (@fiassemblee) April 23, 2025

Legal Scrutiny and Political Division in Israel

The controversial statements have also drawn scrutiny within Israel. In August 2024, Israel’s Attorney General Amit Isman reportedly considered launching a criminal inquiry against Golan, according to I24. This initiative sparked a sharp rebuke from far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who defended the singer.

LFI’s Stance: Concert as a “Megaphone for Genocide Support”

LFI views the planned concert, expected to draw over 4,500 attendees, as a platform for promoting genocide. This concert… constitutes a real megaphone for the support of the genocide, the group stated. They are urging the local authorities to immediately prohibit the event and are calling for widespread public mobilization to prevent it from taking place.

Context: The October 7th Attack and Ongoing Conflict

The backdrop to this controversy is the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, intensified by the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023. According to official figures, this attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,218 people in Israel, predominantly civilians.Moreover, of the 251 individuals abducted during the assault, 58 remain captive in Gaza, with 34 presumed dead, according to military sources. The conflict continues to be a source of deep division and international concern.