4 countries to boycott Eurovision due to Israel’s continued inclusion

[Everexpanding]

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said it would also withdraw from next year’s contest. “After weighing all perspectives, Avrotros concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation.”

The Slovenian national broadcaster, RTVSLO – the first to threaten a boycott this summer – said participation “would conflict with its values of peace, equality and respect”.

Spain’s culture minister, Ernest Urtasun, backed the decision, adding: “You can’t whitewash Israel given the genocide in Gaza. Culture should be on the side of peace and justice. I’m proud of an RTVE that puts human rights before any economic interest

RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/04/ireland-spain-and-the-netherlands-to-boycott-eurovision-2026-as-israel-cleared-to-compete

Can you address the horrific casualty figures, the torture, war crimes and destruction and stop “but Hamassing” all justified criticism of Israel ?

And stop repeatedly saying that criticism of Israel stems from anti semitism when it reallly does not

How can you discuss the war without looking at Hamas's role in it? Its a betrayal of the Palestinian people to do so and no peace plan can work without understanding Hamas's complicity.

No one made Israel

1. kill 20,000 children
2. torture and rape prisoners in it’s care
3. deny aid to civilians in Gaza
4. destroy all civilian infrastructure needed to support life in Gaza
5. operate an Apartheid State

you claim to care for Israel, Israel is destroying itself also aswell as Gaza. A state cannot kill its way to safety. It has alienated most of the allies it had. It has attempted to undermine the UN and the ICJ just to evade justice, the destruction of these institutions if achieved will make the world an infinitely worse place for all. It is comparable to Russia in the damage it is doing

1. steal land all around it in blatant breach of international law
2. oppress and kill Palestinians for decades

So much of your post is untrue, or incredibly partial, and its framed in terms that are difficult to engage with. Could anyone 'make' Israel do anything? How would it destroy the UN or the ICJ? You make it sound like a simplistic playground argument not a highly complex geopolitical conflict with many actors and interlocking parts.

You cannot face facts, nothing justifies what has been done in Gaza

According to many, Israel has been the aggressor for many decades. As for the evacuation of women and children you know full well that Gaza did not have the same choices.

Besides, Ukraine has statehood. Palestine does not.

It would have done had the normal course of decolonisation that occurred in most other colonised countries during the 20th century not been interrupted by massive Jewish immigration and a promise by the British that they had no right to make.

Yes you are right the situation is different. The occupier must protect the occupied and ensure their welfare, not wage war against them. Israel had a duty to protect the 20000 children that they killed and the 10s of 1000s that they injured.

It's a bit weird that you forgot to include that in your post where you are helpfully pointing out the differences.

Yet you merrily discuss it without mentioning the illegal occupation? That's a pretty big omission. Was it by accident?

You all need to do some research. The falsehoods are off the charts. Many have been corrected on this board many times.

The illegal occupation is at the heart of everything.

And there will never be peace until it ends.

Can you be more specific? What are you suggesting that 'we all need to research' or is this another just vague statement that means nothing and will never be clarified?

Absolutely, of course it is. You can't discuss what is happening without discussing the occupation.

See the title of this thread?

The 4 countries it refers to are Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands.

Yes, thanks. Which is why I withdrew the comment. Good to see that you are on the ball too.

Iceland have decided to boycott Eurovision. Well done them.

From the Guardian

”The board of the national broadcaster, RÚV, voted on Wednesday not to participate, meaning Iceland will join Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Ireland in neither participating in nor broadcasting the event, which is scheduled to take place in Vienna

RÚV said in a statement that “given the public debate in this country … it is clear that neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding the participation of RÚV in Eurovision. It is therefore the conclusion of RÚV to notify the EBU today that RÚV will not take part in Eurovision next year.”

Well done to RUV for listening to their public and making this moral stand against Israel’s actions both in Gaza and in the 2024 Eurovision.

Well done Iceland

Good for them. Would be nice if UK followed.

Glad to see increasing number of countries boycotting

Yes me too, and I’m sure there will be even more.

They won't - the BBC has already indicated they will be participating in Eurovision 2026.

There will be 34 or 35 countries participating (depending on what Armenia decide to do) compared to 37 last year. Some countries who didn't participate last year will do so in 2026.

Only Armenia have yet to declare whether they intend to participate in 2026 or not.