Netherlands Joins Ireland in Boycotting Eurovision Over Israel’s Gaza Atrocities
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Netherlands has joined Ireland and several other European nations in declaring they will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate.
Dutch broadcaster AvroTros announced the decision Friday, citing Israeli regime’s relentless bombardment of Gaza and the mounting civilian death toll. The network said the killing of journalists in Gaza was also a factor behind its stance.
The move follows a similar announcement from Ireland’s RTE, which described Israel’s participation as “unconscionable” given the “ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.” Slovenia and Iceland have also indicated their participation hinges on Israel being barred from the event.
The contest, scheduled for May in Vienna, has already faced growing protests over Israel’s genocidal military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians since October 2023.
Israel’s criminal actions have been met with public outrage across Europe. At the 2025 contest in Switzerland, Israel’s entry was drowned out by boos from the audience.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said it was consulting members on how to manage participation amid what it called “geopolitical tensions.” Director Martin Green acknowledged the “deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”
RTE, in a statement earlier this week, thanked the EBU for allowing countries to withdraw without penalty but reiterated that Ireland’s participation was impossible under current circumstances. It also condemned the targeting of journalists in Gaza and the blockade on international media access.
The 70th Eurovision final is set for May 16 at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle.
Israel rejects accusations of genocide, claiming its campaign is self-defense. European broadcasters, however, say its mass killings of Palestinians and journalists make its inclusion in Eurovision intolerable.
