Neil Young Cancels Israel Concert Amid Gaza Conflict

Rock legend Neil Young and longtime band Crazy Horse have cancelled of an upcoming concert in Tel Aviv because of the spiraling conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we must cancel our one and only Israeli concert due to tensions which have rendered the event unsafe at this time,” read a statement from the band, Variety reports. “We’ll miss the opportunity to play for our fans and look forward to playing in Israel and Palestine in peace.”

The concert was scheduled for July 17 at Hayarkon Park.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Reuters that police canceled the concert “in order not to put people in Gaza rocket range at unnecessary risk.” Militants in Gaza have fired hundreds of rockets toward Israel in the past week.

“I will be making donations to both the Louise Tillie Alpert Youth Music Centre of Israel, and Heartbeat,” Young’s statement continues, “two organizations that teach music to Palestinian and Israeli youth simultaneously by enabling them to play music together.”

[Variety]