Global outcry reaches Eurovision as four countries refuse to compete

Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have withdrawn from the event after calling for a ban on the Zionist regime’s participation in Eurovision 2026.

According to Al Jazeera, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain have announced that they will boycott the event after the organizers decided to allow Israel to participate in next year’s Eurovision.

This reaction came on Thursday immediately after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition, announced that despite requests from some countries to exclude the Zionist regime, no vote would be held on the matter.

Opponents of the Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 have criticized the regime over what they describe as a genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, which has so far left more than 70,000 victims, as well as allegations of unfair interference in the most recent contest in favor of its own contestant.

In a statement allowing Israel to take part in the competition, the Eurovision Song Contest Union claimed that its members had shown their “clear support for changes aimed at strengthening trust and safeguarding the neutrality” of the contest.

These changes, which include the reintroduction of a broader panel of professional juries in the semifinal stage, are intended to deter governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters.

In response to the inclusion of the Zionist regime in Eurovision 2026, the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said: Under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organization.

The network accused Israel of “proven interference” in last year’s competition and also pointed to its “serious violations of press freedom” during the war in Gaza.

Ireland will also not take part in Eurovision 2026, with its broadcaster RTÉ citing the “horrific loss of life in Gaza and the humanitarian catastrophe” as the reason for its boycott.

Slovenia likewise announced its withdrawal, with its national broadcaster saying that the move was taken “on behalf of the 20,000 children who were killed in Gaza.”

Meanwhile, Spain’s public television network RTVE also announced that it will not participate in the event in Vienna, which will mark the 70th edition of the contest.

In a statement, Alfonso Morales, the network’s secretary general, said: The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the confirmation of a peace process, and Israel’s use of this contest for political purposes, are making it increasingly difficult to preserve Eurovision as a neutral cultural event.