Amsterdam, Netherlands - Calls are mounting for Israel‘s exclusion from the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, fueled by concerns over its actions in Palestine. A recent article published by Joop.nl argues that Israel’s participation has always been a political act, used to deflect attention from the occupation of Palestinian territories and the oppression of Palestinians.
The article highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, noting reports that bodies of the deceased remain buried under rubble in the “green zone,” diminishing the likelihood of families recovering their loved ones. It also alleges a system where Palestinians can pay thousands of dollars for passage out of the region without official documentation,effectively barring their return.
Moreover, the piece cites claims of nearly 10,000 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli prison camps, alleging frequent torture, and ongoing expropriation of Palestinian land and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. It states that approximately 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank over the past two years by Israeli settlers or the army, with 264 attacks on Palestinians and their property reported by the UN in October 2023 alone.
The author contends that Israel has leveraged the Eurovision Song Contest as its debut in 1973 as a propaganda tool. Spain has reportedly announced it will withdraw from the contest should Israel participate. The article expresses hope that Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS will follow suit and lobby other public broadcasters to do the same, arguing that Israel’s participation legitimizes what it describes as “one of the most abhorrent crimes against humanity of this century.”
The article references a feature film, “Palestine 36,” and links to articles on Joop.nl and a YouTube video for further data.
