ENGLISH musician George Alan O'Dowd, known professionally as Boy George, has released a song dismissing the genocide in Gaza while voicing support for Israel.
The opening line is "you say genocide, I said war, when you're attacked, that's what the army is for".
He goes on to describe Israel's assault as having got "ugly", before saying that it has done so because he "knows you want to kill every last one of us," referring to Jewish people living in Israel.
He goes on to speak about the October 7 attacks in 2023 at the Nova music festival, during which 344 civilians and 34 security personnel were killed and 44 people taken hostage by Hamas.
His lyrics read "you never mentioned October 7. Young girls raped against trees, murdered brutally, for the crime of dancing."
He goes on to say that "you condemned the Jews with selective memory", and through "propaganda fuelled by the internet."
This verse also hit out at musicians who have voiced support for Palestine – such as Kneecap, Stormzy and Clairo – describing them as "musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep".
Israel's genocidal assault into Gaza has killed more than 73,000 civilians and displaced close to 2 million Palestinians from their homes.
He goes on to say: "Trust me we will dance again ... And there will be no war.
"But if you're ever confused, I stand with the Jews. I don't feel brave, I just need to behave like a human."
#Shalom pic.twitter.com/0BfHIrThzO
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) July 26, 2026
Boy George, who is not Jewish or Israeli, said he holds a strong connection to the Jewish people because he has a lot of Jewish friends.
Speaking ahead of an appearance with San Marino for their Eurovision song contest entry, he was questioned about the boycott of Eurovision by countries opposing Israel’s inclusion in the contest. “I have many Jewish friends, whom I’ve known since I was 15 or 16 years old,” he replied.
“Are people asking me, as someone with principles, to turn my back on my Jewish friends? That is not going to happen – it will never happen.
"From the beginning of my career, I wore the Star of David … I feel very connected to the Jewish people. I’m not necessarily connected to Israel.
"I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the mission of music is to unite people.”
Despite saying in the song that he does not regard Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide, and instead describes it as a war, two UN investigations have said Israel is committing a genocide.
The UN independent international commission of inquiry (COI) said in 2025 that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry called the report “distorted and false”.
Last month, the UN COI found that Israel was continuing to commit genocide by targeting children. That report was dubbed a “libellous sham” by Israel.
The International Criminal Court has also issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence secretary Yoav Gallant.
The warrants are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, which the court said have been committed from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.
The ICC said it had found that the alleged crimes against humanity were part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza ".
He first launched his music career through the pop group Culture Club, which scored four UK top 10 albums and hit singles like Karma Chameleon.
The band also had a hit with an anti-war track, The War Song, which reached UK No 2 in 1984 and featured the chorus: “War is stupid and people are stupid.
"And love means nothing in some strange quarters.”
The full lyrics of Boy George's 'We Will Dance Again'
You say genocide, I say war When you're attacked, that's what the army's for Does it get ugly? You bet it does When I know you wanna kill Every last one of us Every last one of us You never mention October 7 Young girls raped against trees Murder through Tel Aviv For the crime of dancing You condemn the Jews, with selective memory Musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep Propaganda fuelled by the Internet feels so weak
[Chorus] But trust me, we will dance again Wе will dance again We will dance again And thеre will be no war But if you're ever confused I stand with the Jews I don't feel brave, I just need to behave like a human But trust me, we will dance again We will dance again We will dance again And there will be no war But if you're ever confused I stand with the Jews I don't feel brave, I just need to behave like a human
[Chorus] But trust me, we will dance again We will dance again We will dance again And there will be no war But if you're ever confused I stand with the Jews I don't feel brave, I just need to behave like a human
