David Draiman has hit back at Kneecap regarding their pro-Palestine comments and criticism of him – telling them to “enjoy their five minutes” of fame.
The beef between the Disturbed frontman and the Irish hip-hop trio comes following comments from Tom Morello last week, in which the soloist and Rage Against The Machine guitarist described Kneecap as “clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now”. He also praises them for “speaking truth to power” in their outspoken support for the people of Palestine and criticism of the Israeli government.
Draiman, who is Jewish and has been a vocal supporter of Israel during the ongoing conflict with Gaza, then said that Morello was “shameful” for backing Kneecap.
“Wish I could say I was shocked,” he said. ”Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my ‘friend’s’ virtue signalling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred.”
Things then escalated again when Kneecap made an X/Twitter post about Draiman – sharing an image from 2024 that showed the singer signing artillery shells belonging to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) with messages such as “Fuck Hamas”.
In the caption, the trio wrote: “We don’t care what religion anyone is…or if they’ve one at all. We love all sound c**ts. Smiling and signing bombs to murder kids and other people’s families just makes you a straight up c**t. Simple as. Free Palestine.”
We don’t care what religion anyone is…or if they’ve one at all.
We love all sound cunts.
Smiling and signing bombs dropped to murder kids and other people’s families just makes you a straight up cunt.
Simple as.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸 https://t.co/QF72cP3PC5 pic.twitter.com/6Hvus2WB7m
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) July 13, 2025
The post has now caught the attention of Draiman, who has shared a response to Kneecap, telling them to enjoy their “five minutes” in the spotlight.
“Here’s the thing, and I’ll speak to you in small words, so you understand,” he began in his X update. “That shell was meant for HAMAS. You know, the organisation who has sworn to murder all Jews, not just Israelis, time and time again, including my family.”
“You shoot at Jews? Expect Jews to shoot back,” he added. “All innocent lives lost in this conflict are due to Hamas using their own people as cannon fodder so that they can gain the sympathy of those who are only too eager to jump on the Jew hating train.”
“If the hostages were released and Hamas surrendered, the bloodshed would end. But neither you, nor Hamas really want that. Because without dead martyred Palestinians to fuel your zeitgeist, both you and them lose power,” Draiman added.
“Enjoy your five minutes gentlemen. It could have been done with your art, but instead you chose to do it with hatred. Bye now.”
Here’s the thing, and I’ll speak to you in small words, so you understand.
That shell was meant for HAMAS. You know, the organization who has sworn to murder all Jews, not just Israelis, time and time again, including my family.
You shoot at Jews? Expect Jews to shoot back.
— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇺🇸🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) July 13, 2025
But neither you, nor Hamas really want that. Because without dead martyred Palestinians to fuel your zeitgeist, both you and them lose power.
Enjoy your 5 minutes gentlemen. It could have been done with your art, but instead you chose to do it with hatred. Bye now
— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇺🇸🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) July 13, 2025
Earlier this month, the Disturbed singer performed alongside members of Anthrax, Megadeth and Guns N’ Roses at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ Black Sabbath farewell show in Birmingham – which was booked by Morello – and he was booed by the crowd.
He later addressed the reaction, writing: “As you can see… I wasn’t ‘booed off stage’ as so many people in the press and CERTAINLY #FreePalestine crowd, would have you believe. Yes, there were a few boos when I walked out, but I came to pay homage to my teachers, my idols, the mighty Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t about to let a few Jew hating morons deter that.”
He continued: “And I am STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL JEW. I will ALWAYS stand up for my people, and I won’t be deterred, intimidated, or shamed out of rocking the asses of the masses. Put that in your pipes and smoke it.”
As for Kneecap, the beef with Draiman comes amid an eventful year for the Irish hip-hop trio – having stirred controversy with their 2024 on-stage comments and 2025 Coachella set, released the explosive single ‘The Recap’, and getting people talking with their slots at Glastonbury, Wide Awake & 2000 Trees. This morning they announced new UK tour dates too.
