Boycott calls erupt for Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Petra, Jordan
Pro-Palestine and human rights activists in Jordan are calling for the boycott of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s upcoming concert in Petra over his history and strong ties with Israel.
The concert is set to be held on November 27, 2026. However, the boycott campaign is urging Jordanian fans not to buy tickets following Bocelli’s long record of visiting Israel and participating in events across occupied Palestine. The Italian tenor has also previously expressed sympathy for the Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, but made no comments regarding Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza since 2023 and its occupation of Palestine.
According to The New Arab, Cocelli’s ties to Israel go back to 2008, when he participated in a Tel Aviv concert to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Shimon Peres Center for Peace. He also performed the song “A Ray of Hope” with Israeli singer Liel Collet.
Boycott calls erupt for Andrea Bocelli’s concert in Petra, Jordan
In 2010, the 68-year-old returned to Israel to headline the Masada Opera Festival. In 2022, he performed for more than 20,000 attendees at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Bocelli told Netanyahu that he would choose Israel as his home, despite owning a property in Tuscany, further expressing his love for the country.
Since 2023, Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of over 74,000 Palestinians and the injuring of more than 175,000, excluding those missing under the rubble, as reported by Wafa Agency.
