Ed Sheeran has said what is happening in Gaza is "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate", as he apologised for "making mistakes" following the controversy surrounding Macklemore's removal from his tour.
The English singer addressed the issue at the opening of his concert at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday night, his first show since Macklemore was dropped from the US leg of his Loop Tour.
Sheeran began by referring to the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, describing what happened at the Nova music festival as "horrific" and saying it had "compounded centuries of Jewish pain".
"What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate," he continued.
"My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and the loss of civilians' lives, of children's lives."
He also said the "systemic injustice" unfolding in the West Bank "cannot be overlooked".
Sheeran told the crowd he had never wanted to be "an activist musician", but said the controversy had placed him at the centre of a debate about freedom of speech.
"I've had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry," he said.
An emotional Sheeran thanked those who had attended the concert.
"I am honestly so grateful that you're here tonight with me," he said.
"This concert is still a place where you are welcome and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views, and everyone can stand beside people that they don't agree with on everything, but they can all agree on singing these songs."
Outside the stadium, some fans said they continued to support Sheeran despite the controversy.
James Webber IV, from Scranton in Pennsylvania, said: "I stand with Ed. I think there's a time for politics and a music concert is not one of those places."
His father, James Webber III, said: "Everything will be fine. In a couple of months this will blow over. He doesn't deserve this.
"I think he did the right thing, staying true to what he believes and the fans will support him."
A small pro-Palestinian protest was also held near Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the concert.
Sheeran also said he was "deeply worried" about concert venues seeking to vet the content of performers' sets.
"This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world," he said.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, was dropped from the remaining US dates of the Loop Tour after saying "Free Palestine" during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.
Sheeran has said the decision was made by the tour's promoter and not by him.
In a statement earlier this week, he said venues hosting upcoming dates had indicated they would cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
The tour's US promoter, Messina Touring Group, has also said it was informed by venues that concerts would not be allowed to go ahead with Macklemore on the line-up.
Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and US musician Finneas subsequently withdrew from upcoming support slots, while Irish band Beoga, who had been performing with Sheeran during the tour, also stepped away.
Beoga said they "fully supported" Macklemore's message.
Rowe later defended Sheeran in a video posted on social media saying he believed the singer had made a mistake and directing his criticism instead towards Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, and what he described as "Zionist lobbies".
Sheeran began Saturday night's concert without an opening act or his usual backing band.
He was later joined by five musicians who he said had learned his songs in three days.
The Loop Tour is due to continue in the US before moving to South America, with its final scheduled dates in Mexico City in December.
