**Thom Yorke Halts Concert in Melbourne Over Audience Interruption and Calls for Political Statement**

During a solo concert in Melbourne, Australia, Thom Yorke of Radiohead confronted an audience member who disrupted the performance by demanding that he address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The incident unfolded when the individual shouted for Yorke to "condemn the Israeli genocide of Gaza" and questioned, "How many dead children will it take?"

Yorke responded by challenging the person to come forward, stating, "Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it." He further added, "You want to piss on everybody's night? OK, you do it, see you later," before leaving the stage amidst audience boos. The disruption occurred at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and Yorke subsequently returned to conclude his set, performing a solo version of Radiohead's hit "Karma Police." The disruptive audience member was eventually removed from the venue.

The incident highlights ongoing tension and criticism directed at Radiohead and its members over their past performances in Israel. Since their 2017 concert in Tel Aviv, which drew protests and a public letter signed by multiple artists, actors, and authors, Yorke and his bandmates, including Jonny Greenwood, have faced persistent calls to boycott Israel due to its treatment of Palestinians.

In response to the criticism, Yorke had previously voiced his frustration in a Rolling Stone interview. "Part of me wants to say nothing because anything I say cooks up a fire from embers. But at the same time, if you want me to be honest, yeah, it's really upsetting that artists I respect think we are not capable of making a moral decision ourselves after all these years. They talk down to us and I just find it mind-boggling that they think they have the right to do that," he remarked.

The Melbourne concert incident underscores the enduring controversy surrounding Radiohead's decisions and the broader debate over artists' roles in political activism.