U2 Changed Lyrics of “Pride” in Tribute to Israelis Killed in Musical Festival Massacre

U2 paid tribute to the 260 festivalgoers who were killed by Hamas in what is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history.

While performing Sunday at the recently opened Sphere venue in Las Vegas, Bono dedicated their song “Pride (In the Name of Love)” to the young victims who were shot and killed in this weekend’s terrorist attack at the Tribe of Nova trance music festival near Kibbutz Reim in south Israel, close to the Gaza Strip.

“In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable. But our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence,” Bono told the audience. “But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us … and those beautiful kids at that music festival.”

Bono then changed the lyrics as he sang, “Early morning, October 7th / As the sun is rising in the desert sky / Stars of David, they took your life / But they could not take your pride.”

In the light of what’s happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence…

But our hearts and our anger, you know where that’s pointed. So sing with us… and those… pic.twitter.com/S1zfCMNtzz

— U2 (@U2) October 9, 2023

“Pride (In the Name of Love)” was written to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., with the same line of lyrics referencing his assassination on April 4, 1968.

At least 260 people have been confirmed dead in the music festival massacre, with the number of people taken hostage still undetermined. The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas crossed into the country from Gaza and opened fire on about 3,500 young Israelis who had come together for the night to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in one of the first sites to be attacked.

On Saturday, Hamas militants stormed into Israel in unprecedented surprise attacks, gunning down civilians in the streets and dragging men, women and children into captivity, prompting what is poised to erupt into a full-blown conflict. At least 1,600 lives have already been claimed on both sides, according to the Associated Press. Israel says Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza now hold more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostage.