The Eurovision Song Contest, known for its celebration of music and unity, was marred by controversy as thousands of anti-war activists protested against Israel’s participation in the event. The ongoing conflict in Gaza cast a dark shadow over the final of the competition, with protesters demanding a boycott of the contest for including Israel.
In the Swedish host city of Malmo, between 6,000-8,000 protesters gathered at the central square before marching towards the contest venue. Waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans like “Eurovision united by genocide,” the activists made their voices heard. Climate activist Greta Thunberg also joined the protest but was removed by Swedish police outside the arena where the final was taking place.
The protesters criticized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for allowing Israel to participate in the contest despite banning Russia in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine. The EBU, which has always maintained that Eurovision is non-political, faced backlash for not excluding Israel over the conflict in Gaza. Israeli contestant Eden Golan faced controversy over her song “October Rain,” which was initially rejected for its reference to a Hamas-led attack on Israel.
During a rehearsal performance of the rebranded song “Hurricane,” Golan was met with boos from the live audience in Malmo, along with shouts of “Free Palestine.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Golan, claiming she had “already won” and accusing the protesters of anti-Semitism.
The EBU also reprimanded Swedish-Palestinian pop singer Eric Saade for wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh around his wrist during the first semi-final, citing a breach of the event’s non-political nature. Ireland’s act, Bambie Thug, was forced to remove pro-Palestine symbols from their performance, including messages of “Ceasefire” and “Freedom for Palestine.”
The controversy continued as Dutch contestant Joost Klein was disqualified for making a “threatening movement” towards a backstage camera after his performance. Klein had also caused a stir by covering his face with a Dutch flag at a news conference, seemingly in protest of being placed next to Israel’s contestant, Golan.
Despite the protests and disruptions, the Eurovision Song Contest went on as scheduled, showcasing a diverse range of musical talents from across Europe. However, the shadow of the conflict in Gaza loomed large over the glitzy event, highlighting the intersection of politics and entertainment on the world stage.