UN Rapporteur Welcomes European Boycott of Eurovision Over Israel’s Participation
The UN’s Palestine rapporteur says European withdrawals from Eurovision mark a rare step toward accountability amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza.
European governments announce their withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 in protest of Israel’s participation. Photo: @trtworld
December 8, 2025 Hour: 4:10 am
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UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese praised the withdrawal of several European countries from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, framing the move as a sign of shifting public awareness and a rare step toward accountability for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
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In a statement released Sunday, Albanese criticized major international institutions for failing to hold Israel accountable. She argued that the absence of sanctions or suspensions from global political, cultural and sports bodies has contributed to the normalization of the situation in Gaza.
“Israel has not been suspended from the UN, international fora, UEFA, FIFA, FIBA or cultural events. The genocide continues because it is normalized,” she said. Albanese welcomed the emerging response from European governments, adding: “And then, just like that, the accountability begins in the form of a European boycott. Eurovicious is over!”
The boycott has gained momentum after Eurovision organizers rejected calls for an internal vote on suspending Israel’s participation. Several governments have faced sustained domestic pressure to withdraw from the event over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland have confirmed they will not take part in the 2026 contest, citing Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Iceland has indicated it will continue discussions on its participation status.
Albanese’s remarks underscore what critics describe as a long-standing pattern across political, cultural and sporting institutions, where Israel retains full membership and participation despite ongoing military operations.
According to the latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel has killed approximately 70,354 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, most of them women and children, and has injured another 171,030 people.
The expanding boycott adds pressure on cultural institutions that have continued to engage with Israel, reflecting a broader shift in public sentiment across parts of Europe as scrutiny over the war in Gaza intensifies.
Author: MK
Source: HispanTV
