RTE says taking part can be ‘unconscionable’ on account of Israel’s warfare on Gaza and the ‘appalling lack of lives’.
Printed On 11 Sep 2025
Eire, which has been essential of Israel’s warfare on Gaza, will withdraw from subsequent yr’s Eurovision Track Contest if Israel is permitted to compete, the nationwide broadcaster RTE has introduced.
The broadcaster in an announcement on Thursday stated taking part can be “unconscionable” on account of Israel’s warfare on Gaza.
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Eire has taken one of many strongest stances towards Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and joined South Africa’s Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) case accusing Israel of committing genocide.
The ICJ in its interim order in January final yr stated Israel should take steps to stop acts of genocide in Gaza. Quite a few rights organisations have stated Israel’s warfare in Gaza is genocide.
Israel has closed its Dublin embassy in protest towards Eire’s criticism of its army actions towards Palestinians.
Israel has participated in Eurovision as a longtime member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises and coproduces the annual occasion.
Eurovision is organised by the EBU in cooperation with its members, nationwide public service broadcasters comparable to RTE, in additional than 35 nations.
Latest editions of Eurovision have been overshadowed by opposition to Israel’s participation within the contest over its persevering with army assault on Gaza, which has killed greater than 64,000 individuals. Presently, the Israeli military has been finishing up relentless bombardments of Gaza Metropolis to drive its practically 1 million residents to flee.
“RTE feels that Eire’s participation can be unconscionable given the continuing and appalling lack of lives in Gaza,” the broadcaster asserted.
The Irish broadcaster stated it was additionally deeply involved by “the focused killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of entry to worldwide journalists to the territory and the plight of the remaining hostages”.
Israel’s warfare has killed greater than 270 journalists, making it the deadliest battle for media employees ever recorded.
‘Nonetheless consulting’
The EBU stated it understood the “issues and deeply held views across the ongoing battle within the Center East”.
“We’re nonetheless consulting with all EBU members to collect views on how we handle participation and geopolitical tensions across the Eurovision Track Contest,” Eurovision director Martin Inexperienced stated in an emailed assertion.
“Broadcasters have till mid-December to substantiate in the event that they want to participate in subsequent yr’s occasion in Vienna. It’s as much as every member to resolve in the event that they need to participate within the contest and we might respect any choice broadcasters make.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated in Could that Israel must be excluded sooner or later. Madrid has additionally imposed an arms embargo on Israel.
Noting that Russia had not been allowed to participate since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he stated “Israel shouldn’t both as a result of what we can’t enable is double requirements in tradition”.
A closing choice about Eire’s participation within the 2026 competitors can be made as soon as the EBU makes its personal choice on Israel, RTE stated.
Eire has taken half within the contest since 1965 and gained seven instances. Solely Sweden has matched its document variety of victories.