Bono likens Israeli minister to Hitler's right-hand man

Bono and Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are in a heated debate after the musician likened the politician to Hitler's right-hand man, Heinrich Himmler.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Bono was asked about U2's recent song, 'The Tears of Things', which was described as an "elliptical take" on the history of Gaza.

"It's an attempt to try and grasp what's going on in a world where we never needed the moral force of Judaism more than now," Bono said. "And yet, what is happening?" He went on to condemn Hamas' October 7 attack, calling it "an unholy offence." But, he was "particularly horrified" by the words of Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister - according to Rolling Stone.

In particular, he referenced Ben-Gvir's comments made last month while speaking on a podcast, where he advocated for killing "30 to 40" people in the Gaza Strip each night.

"Not just those who pose an immediate threat. No, there are people there who are not worthy of life," Ben-Gvir elaborated. "They shouldn't live. They're not even people."

Bono then likened Ben-Gvir to Himmler, leader of the SS, and the architect of the "final solution" - the plan to eliminate all Jewish people from Europe.

Israel, Bono added, has "to fix the situation. They have to put what happened at the Nakba right, by making some compromise that some of these people don't wanna make, and do the just thing. Justice is at the heart of Judaism."

Ben-Gvir has since fired back, posting on X that: "there is no limit to the hypocrisy of the world's supporters of terrorism. Bono did not compare the Hamas murderers to Himmler - only those who defend the Jews from the next massacre.

"I have news for him: the Jews are done apologizing for their right to live ... In the next government, with God's help, I intend to serve as Israel's Minister of Defense, fight terrorism without mercy, encourage emigration from Gaza and act with determination and strength to protect the citizens of Israel."

In June, the Taoiseach banned Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering Ireland, after a video showed Ben-Gvir mocking bound activists who had been detained by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

France also announced it had banned the Israeli minister from entering the country.

Last year, a UN independent commission of inquiry released a report stating that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.

There is no limit to the hypocrisy of the world’s supporters of terrorism. Bono did not compare the Hamas murderers to Himmler – only those who defend the Jews from the next massacre.

I have news for him: the Jews are done apologizing for their right to live. We can do without…

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) September 29, 2026