Taking to Instagram Live last night, recent Hot Press cover stars KNEECAP hosted a special online fundraiser for ACLAÍ Palestine – a community gym and movement space in the Lajee Center, located in the Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank, Palestine, set up by Cork-based West Belfast native Ainle Ó Cairealláin.

In a video that was broadcast live to their Instagram followers, KNEECAP's  Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí had their heads shaved inside West Belfast's Hawthorn Bar – with viewers encouraged to donate to a GoFundMe page for ACLAÍ Palestine. As of yesterday evening, they had raised over €1,500.

The gym, which opened officially in February 2020, provides a space for strength and movement training, as well as circus skills, for people of all ages who live in the Aida camp. It also provides exercise sessions for patients of the community health programme run by the Lajee Center – a grassroots organisation that provides cultural, educational, and health resources for the community.

KNEECAP have been involved in raising funds for ACLAÍ Palestine on numerous occasions – including putting on a special intimate gig in Dublin earlier this summer.

In their interview with Hot Press back in September, the group discussed their solidarity with Palestine.

“Like with any struggle around the world, the North is pretty solid on it,” Mo Chara said. “Because it was less than a generation ago that the war was on people’s doorsteps. So it’s hard for people who’ve been through that to watch this stuff happening.

“If Palestinians had whiter skin they probably wouldn’t be getting it this bad – or there would be a bit more solidarity around the world,” he continues. “It’s easier for people to disassociate from it, because they’re like, ‘Ah, they don’t look like me. Can’t relate!’”

Yesterday also saw KNEECAP share their streaming stats as part of Spotify Wrapped – with 2.6 million streams clocked up this year alone, despite the fact that they hadn't released new music in 2022.

You can watch all the action from the group's fundraiser below – and donate to ACLAÍ Palestine here.

 

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Revisit KNEECAP's cover story interview here.