Arabic version: اندلاع الاحتجاجات مع رؤية يوروفيجن لمقاطعة تاريخية بسبب إسرائيل

Thousands protested outside the Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna, opposing Israel’s participation in the event. The protests coincided with the boycott of five countries—Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia—over Israel’s involvement in the contest, which critics linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, demonstrators marched through the Austrian capital to highlight perceived double standards in the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) policies.

The EBU faced criticism for allowing Israel to compete while previously banning Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. This year’s Eurovision has seen the largest boycott in its 70-year history, with some national broadcasters opting not to air the show. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the decision to boycott reflects Spain’s stance on the issue, calling it being on “the right side of history.”

In an open letter last month, over 1,000 artists, including notable figures like Macklemore and Paloma Faith, urged fans to boycott Eurovision due to Israel’s participation. Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard criticized the EBU for its decision, describing it as an act of cowardice and highlighting the inconsistency in its policies.

On the day of the final, Al Jazeera reported that 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Vienna, accusing Eurovision of normalizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. They argued that the EBU was unjustifiably accommodating Israel while excluding Russia from international competitions. The winner of this year’s Eurovision will be determined by both a professional jury and public voting.