Dozens of former Eurovision contestants call for Israel ban over Gaza war

More than 70 former Eurovision contestants, including UK entrants Mae Muller and Bianca Nicholas, have signed an open letter urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from this year's Eurovision Song Contest, citing Israel's brutal war on Gaza.

Published on Tuesday by Artists for Palestine UK ahead of the Eurovision finals on 17 May, the letter accuses Israel's public broadcaster KAN of complicity in what the signatories describe as "genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza".

The artists argue that allowing Israel to participate in the EBU was "normalising and whitewashing its crimes".

"We refuse to allow music to be used to whitewash crimes against humanity," the letter reads. "The EBU must act now and prevent further discredit and disruption to the festival."

Among the signatories are Charlie McGettigan, who won Eurovision for Ireland in 1994, Portugal's 2017 winner Salvador Sobral, and Thea Garrett, Malta's 2010 entrant.

The artists include performers, songwriters, lyricists, and creatives from across Europe.

"I believe that the Israeli government has been and is inflicting genocide on the people of Palestine, and for that reason, Israel should be barred from competing in this year's Eurovision Song Contest," said McGettigan.

The letter also claims that the inclusion of KAN in the 2024 contest and the "total impunity" for Israel's delegation made last year’s event "the most politicised and unpleasant in the competition's history".

Widespread backlash

Criticism of KAN includes its 2024 broadcast commentary, which drew widespread backlash after it described Norwegian band Gåte as "sons and daughters of Amalek", invoking a biblical term previously used by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refer to Palestinians.

Gåte, who signed the letter, said: "We were there. We saw what happened. We spoke to the EBU about it." The artists further accused the EBU of double standards, citing its 2022 decision to ban Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

"It can't be one rule for Russia and a completely different rule for Israel," said Garrett. "You bomb, you’re out."

Some of the signatories have previously voiced political concerns about Eurovision’s platforming of Israel. Salvador Sobral, who holds the record for the highest Eurovision score, appeared at the 2024 Goya Awards with a "Gaza" sticker and called for an end to the arms trade and a ceasefire.

Mae Muller, who represented the UK in 2023, wrote on social media after that year’s final: "Watching news reports on Israel invading Rafah directly after watching them celebrate their 328 votes on Eurovision is the most dystopian s*** I have ever witnessed."

The New Arab has contacted the EBU for comment on Tuesday's letter.

Calls to ban Israel from Eurovision have intensified following its devastating war on Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Iceland's national broadcaster joined those of Slovenia and Spain in publicly opposing Israel's participation this year.

Despite mounting opposition, Eurovision Director Martin Green has said there were no plans to block Israel's participation.

Israel's contestant this year, Yuval Raphael, an alleged 7 October survivor, is set to perform a song about the aftermath of the Hamas-led attack, despite Eurovision's official ban on political messages.

In last year's competition, Israeli singer Eden Golan came in fifth place amid widespread controversy. The Israeli delegation was accused of harassing contestants and journalists who criticised Israel's actions in Gaza.