Macklemore begins Free Palestine tour after Ed Sheeran fallout

Macklemore has begun his Free Palestine tour in Dublin after Ed Sheeran's controversial decision to drop the rapper from his tour last month.

The American star is playing to a crowd of up to 13,000 at the city's 3Arena - and, hours before the sell-out show, had promised "many incredible surprise guests".

The artist - whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty - announced the tour days after being dropped from Sheeran's Loop Tour following pro-Palestinian comments he made onstage.

He was criticised by Jewish groups after saying "Free Palestine" at two concerts and making political speeches, including referring to the death toll from Israel's military action in Gaza as a genocide - a claim that Israel rejects.

Sheeran later stressed that the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoter, not by himself.

Among the acts on the bill at Macklemore's Dublin show were singer-songwriter Hozier, rap trio Kneecap and folk band Beoga, who had also performed on Sheeran's tour.

Macklemore has said that proceeds from his Free Palestine tour will go to organisations supporting Palestinians.

He will perform in Paris on Thursday and in London on Friday.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to an unprecedented Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

During Israel's military campaign in Gaza more than 70,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.

Israel says its troops conduct self-defence operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in accordance with international law.