Ireland, Netherlands, Others Threaten Eurovision 2026 Boycott Over Israel Participation

Several European public broadcasters, including Ireland's RTE and the Netherlands' AVROTROS, have announced they will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. RTE described participation as "unconscionable" given the loss of lives, targeted killings of journalists, and hostage situations in Gaza, while AVROTROS emphasized that Israel's involvement contradicts the contest's founding values of peace, equality, and respect due to severe human suffering and alleged political interference by Israel during the 2025 contest. Both broadcasters have stated they would reconsider participation only if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) excludes Israel from the competition. The announcements follow similar withdrawal threats from Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland, highlighting growing tensions around Israel's participation amid accusations of genocide and obstruction of aid in Gaza. These developments reflect increasing calls within the Eurovision community to reconsider Israel's role in the contest given the current conflict and its impact on human rights and press freedom. The EBU has maintained that each broadcaster can decide independently whether to participate.