Eurovision members debate call to boycott Israel

Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest will be debated at a two-day meeting of member broadcasters in Geneva starting on Thursday, following calls to exclude the country over its Gaza war tactics.

Countries including Iceland, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have threatened in recent months to pull out of the 2026 contest if Israel takes part.

Others, such as Belgium, Finland and Sweden, have also indicated they are considering a boycott.

In justifying its decision, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS cited a “serious violation of press freedom” by Israel in Gaza as it has refused to allow journalists into the Strip.

It also accused Israel of “proven interference … during the last edition of the Song Contest” – in which it came second – by lobbying people overseas to vote for it.

Ireland's RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst said in September it would be "unconscionable" for Israel to take part given the "ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza" as well as the "targeted killing of journalists in Gaza and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory".

Israeli fans cheer their entry Yuval Raphael after she performed at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, in May. AP

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the competition, had planned to convene member broadcasters in November for a vote on the issue.

But a few days after the October 10 announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the EBU postponed a decision until its ordinary general assembly on December 4 and 5.

Then last month, in an apparent bid to avoid a contentious vote, the EBU announced that it had changed its voting rules to address members' concerns and to strengthen “trust and transparency”.

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