Performer detained after protesting at Super Bowl halftime show highlighting Gaza, Sudan conflicts

During Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show, a performer staged a protest by unfurling a flag with the words "Sudan" and "Gaza," highlighting the ongoing wars in both regions, reports AP.

Security personnel quickly detained the performer after they waved the flag while standing on a car that was part of the performance. The New Orleans police are currently determining whether charges will be filed.

The NFL announced that the performer would be permanently banned from all NFL events and stadiums. Meanwhile, the company responsible for the halftime show stated that the act was not part of the planned performance.

So, what was the reason behind this protest? What is happening in the Gaza Strip and Sudan, and why does it matter globally?

The Situation in the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave along the Mediterranean Sea, is bordered by Egypt and Israel. Covering approximately 360 square kilometers (140 square miles)—about twice the size of Washington, D.C., and 3.5 times the size of Paris—it is highly populated, with 2.3 million Palestinians living there before the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

The conflict began when Hamas, governing Gaza since 2007, launched an incursion into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel retaliated with a massive air and ground offensive across Gaza, resulting in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials. These figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Large portions of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, and its future remains uncertain.

A ceasefire took effect on 19 January and remains in place. Palestinianhave released hostages, while Israel has freed Palestinian prisoners. However, concerns persist over the durability of the truce. Former U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks during the Super Bowl, suggesting that America was "committed to buying and owning Gaza," have further complicated discussions about the enclave's future.

Palestinians seek the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as part of an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This two-state solution, a long-standing proposal for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has broad support from Middle Eastern nations and the international community. However, Israel has floated the idea of relocating Gaza's population, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently calling it "a revolutionary, creative vision." This suggestion has been widely rejected by Hamas, Palestinians, and much of the world.

The Situation in Sudan

Sudan, located in northeastern Africa, has faced instability since the 2019 ousting of longtime autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir following a popular uprising. A brief transition to democracy was disrupted in 2021 when army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and paramilitary leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo staged a military coup.

By 2023, tensions between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into full-scale war. The conflict has resulted in over 28,000 deaths, displaced millions, and led to severe food shortages, with some people resorting to eating grass as famine spreads. Some estimates place the death toll even higher.

Recently, Burhan's forces, including Sudan's military and allied militias, have gained ground against the RSF, recapturing a crucial refinery north of the capital, Khartoum. Fighting has also intensified in and around Khartoum, increasing civilian casualties. Between 31 January and 5 February, the U.N. Human Rights Office documented at least 275 civilian deaths due to artillery strikes, air raids, and drone attacks.

"Indiscriminate attacks, as well as threats and violence against civilians, must stop immediately," said Seif Magango, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Office. "The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, along with their affiliated groups, must uphold their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to safeguard civilians, including humanitarian workers and human rights defenders."

How Have These Wars Influenced Popular Culture?

Activists have used online platforms to draw attention to both conflicts, even though they have different causes and actors. Celebrities have also highlighted the devastation in both Gaza and Sudan.

In August, American rapper Macklemore cancelled a concert in Dubai, citing the United Arab Emirates' alleged involvement in Sudan's humanitarian crisis through reported support for the RSF. Although the UAE has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the paramilitary group, U.N. experts previously reported "credible" evidence that arms were being sent to the RSF from northern Chad multiple times a week.

Macklemore's decision to cancel the show was also influenced by his public support for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war. During performances, he has been singing "Hind's Hall," a song honouring Hind Rajab, a young girl killed in Gaza. Palestinian sources blame her death on Israeli forces firing at a civilian vehicle.