The Netherlands has announced it will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel takes part, joining Ireland, which made the same decision a day earlier.
Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros said its decision was motivated by Israel’s involvement in the Gaza conflict, pointing to the humanitarian crisis and the deaths of numerous journalists.
On Thursday, Ireland’s RTE declared that Israel’s participation was “morally unjustifiable given the ongoing and appalling loss of life in Gaza.”
In recent years, Eurovision contests have been overshadowed by protests over Israel’s inclusion amid the war in Gaza.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, said it recognizes the “concerns and beliefs about the ongoing war in the Middle East.” It added that it is consulting with member broadcasters to determine how to handle entries in light of geopolitical tensions.
