Organizers of a benefit concert aiming to raise funds for people in Gaza and the West Bank are currently searching for a new venue. The event is modeled after the successful “Together for Palestine” benefit concert held at Wembley Arena in London in September 2025.
The plans faced a major setback when the Lanxess Arena in Cologne withdrew its commitment for the scheduled date of March 29, 2026. A musician involved, Maidline Aurie, expressed skepticism about the reasons for the cancellation, questioning if there had been external interference. According to Aurie, who belongs to a four-person core team, the initial German lineup included prominent figures such as Peter Fox, Nico Santos, the band Bonaparte, the trio Monrose, and supporters like Jan Delay, Emilia Roig, and Kübra Gümüsay.
When contacted by the “taz”, the Lanxess Arena issued a statement claiming that the event had “never been confirmed” by them. However, sources cited by the newspaper indicate that internal communications from the venue operators pointed to potential security risks and fears of “accompanying demonstrations” as the reasons for canceling the concert for the intended date. The arena declined to entertain inquiries about rescheduling the event at the same location, advising the public that they could no longer communicate about internal booking requests.
The quest for an alternative location has proven equally challenging. Aurie noted that even backup venues they considered have since canceled. Despite these logistical hurdles, the artists remain committed, with rapper Chima stating that the solid lineup should typically be sufficient to secure a major hall or arena.
Chima also touched on the difficulty of mobilizing talent in Germany, suggesting that many artists tend to remain cautious on the subject, citing a fear of accusations of antisemitism. He pointed out that gathering the necessary roster was complicated because, instead of a direct refusal, artists merely offered generalized excuses, such as being “on tour” “resting” or “on vacation”.
The “taz” extended invitations to numerous German artists, including Herbert Grönemeyer, the Toten Hosen, Nina Hagen, Sebastian Krumbiegel (from Prinzen), the Antilopen Gang, Tocotronic, and die Sterne, but none responded by the paper’s deadline of April 27, 2026.
Peter Fox, who stated he is a “politically interested citizen, not an activist” confirmed his intent to perform with his band Seeed in Cologne, having been approached by the organizers. Fox expressed concern that since the international media focus on Gaza has diminished, the situation for local people has not improved. He highlighted that children still cannot attend school in Gaza, and essential infrastructure is virtually non-existent. Furthermore, according to Fox, Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank is proceeding aggressively, making it increasingly obvious that Palestinians are being systematically displaced and pushed out by Israel using all available means.