Carlos O’Connell delivers a speech at the Rolling Stone UK Awards. (Screengrab)

Carlos O'Connell, guitarist of the Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C., took the stage at the Rolling Stone UK Awards with a powerful political statement.

While accepting the award for Best Album for their latest release, Romance, O'Connell criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed solidarity with Palestine.

"It’s kind of weird that this is the first time it’s been said all night," O’Connell remarked during his acceptance speech at London's Roundhouse.

"But I’m just gonna say it: Free Palestine. F*** Netanyahu. F*** Zionism. Free Palestine." His comments come days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over war crimes in Gaza.

since they deleted the post with Carlos acceptance speech, i’ll post it and leave it here cause you cant take it down
FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/r7sBQHIXRX
— Carlos O’Connell Archive (@carlyringsarch) November 28, 2024

This is not the first time Fontaines D.C. has shown its support for the Palestinian cause. In 2023, the band canceled a performance in Istanbul after consulting with Palestinian artists and human rights activists, citing concerns over the venue's connection to Israeli energy supplies.

At the time, the band stated, "We must be clear in our convictions and put solidarity with the people of Palestine first."

The five-member group, consisting of lead singer Grian Chatten, guitarist Conor Curley, bassist Conor Deegan III, drummer Tom Coll, and O’Connell, has garnered critical acclaim for their music and activism.

Their album Romance, released on August 23, has been praised as a "knockout record" by critics.

Ireland has long been a staunch advocate for Palestine, consistently supporting Palestinian rights and condemning Israeli policies perceived as violations of international law.

The country was among the first in the European Union to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and later the Palestinian state.

On November 6, Ireland officially approved the appointment of a full ambassador from Palestine, and on November 8, the country announced plans to join South Africa's case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by the end of the year.