Four European nations have announced they will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest following Israel’s confirmation to compete, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis, reports Baltimore Chronicle. The countries withdrawing include the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia, whose state media organizations stated that current conditions make participation unacceptable.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 251 hostages. Israel responded by declaring war, vowing to eliminate Hamas, which controls Gaza and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States. As of early December 2025, the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 70,000 according to the Hamas-run health ministry, despite a ceasefire agreement that has largely held since October.
Taco Zimmerman, head of Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, said, “Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold. Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable.”
Ireland’s broadcaster RTÉ highlighted the human cost of the conflict in its official statement. “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 statement read.
Spain’s RTVE similarly cited concerns that Israel is using Eurovision for political purposes. Alfonso Morales, RTVE’s secretary general, said, “The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and Israel’s use of the contest for political purposes, make it increasingly difficult to maintain Eurovision as a neutral cultural event.”
Slovenia also withdrew, with its broadcaster pointing to the ongoing Gaza war and criticizing the Israeli government for politicizing the contest.
Yuval Raphael of Israel placed second in the 2025 Eurovision Grand Final with the song “New Day Will Rise,” behind Austria’s JJ and “Wasted Love.” Israeli authorities were accused of attempting to manipulate voting during the contest, though Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green told the BBC that no rules were broken. In response to ongoing controversy, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) convened in Geneva to discuss voting reforms and contest regulations, ultimately not voting on Israel’s participation, which allowed the country to compete.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed support for Israel’s involvement, stating on X, “I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.” KAN, Israel’s state broadcaster, characterized the withdrawal of some nations as a form of cultural boycott, while other broadcasters, including the BBC, supported Israel’s participation.
Opposition to Israel’s involvement has existed since 2024, when protesters demonstrated outside the Eurovision arena in Malmo, Sweden. Israel first joined Eurovision in 1973 and has won four times, most recently in 2018. The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest final is scheduled for May 16 in Vienna, Austria.
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