A Muslim mob rioted early this week (Tuesday) in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, outside a concert by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli—who has expressed support for Israel. Video circulating on social media shows protesters breaking through security barriers and clashing with law enforcement. Security forces ultimately repelled the demonstrators, and the concert proceeded without disruption.
ANDREA BOCELLI SHOWED KINDNESS TO HOSTAGES, Then Protesters Targeted His Concert:
Violent protesters attempted to storm an Andrea Bocelli concert in Jakarta Tuesday night because the singer had dared to show compassion to Israeli hostages, offering to pay for an all-expenses-paid trip to octogenarian Yaffa Adar, who sustained herself in captivity by humming his songs, and welcoming Segev Kalfon, who survived 738 days in Hamas captivity, to his home for a private meeting and performance. Security forces repelled the crowd, and the concert was performed without disruption.
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— Shiri_Sabra (@sabra_the) November 4, 2026
The protest was sparked by Bocelli’s public support for Israel and his Tel Aviv performance before an audience that included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, the singer met with freed hostage Yaffa Adar, who revealed after her release that what helped her maintain sanity and hope in Gaza was humming Bocelli’s songs every morning.
When he heard this, Bocelli was moved and sent the freed hostage a personal letter saying her words gave him inspiration and faith. He later invited her and her family to his concert and offered to cover all expenses. The singer and his wife also hosted Segev Kalfon—who was freed after 738 days in Hamas captivity—at their Miami home for a meeting where Bocelli sang for the freed hostage and said, “Usually people want to take pictures with me, but today I’d be happy to take a picture with you.”
Just last month, the antisemitic BDS movement in Jordan called to boycott Bocelli’s planned November 27 performance in the city of Petra: “We call on you to boycott the performance by Italian singer Andrea Bocelli planned at the ‘Cultural Village’ in Petra due to his long public record of supporting the Zionist enemy! It is unacceptable that Petra, one of the most iconic sites in Jordan and the Arab world, should become a stage for someone who raised funds for the occupation army.”