Netherlands prepared to affix Eurovision boycott over Israel

The Dutch public broadcaster, Avrotros, has confirmed the Netherlands may even boycott subsequent 12 months’s Eurovision tune contest if Israel is concerned.

It follows Irish broadcaster RTÉ saying it will not take part if Israel does “given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.

Eurovision will happen subsequent in May 2026 in Vienna after Austrian singer JJ won this year following a nail-biting end that noticed him topple Israel from pole place on the final minute.

In a statement which echoed RTÉ’s, Avrotros mentioned it too may now not justify Israel’s inclusion “given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza” and the “serious erosion of press freedom”.

It continued: “Human suffering, the suppression of press freedom and political interference are at odds with the values of public broadcasting.”

The Dutch broadcaster went on to quote the Israeli ban on worldwide media from getting into war-torn Gaza, in addition to the “many casualties among journalists”.

On Friday, Irish musician and songwriter Phil Coulter called on the UK to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates.

The BBC – the UK’s Eurovision broadcaster – has thus far declined to remark.

Mr Coulter mentioned he was “100% behind RTÉ” of their resolution to withdraw from the competition, and that folks within the UK and Ireland are each “disgusted by what’s going on in Gaza”.

Coulter has written or co-written a number of songs for Eurovision, together with the UK’s 1967 successful tune, Puppet on a String, which singer Jade Thirlwall sampled final 12 months.

RTÉ mentioned it is going to make a last resolution as soon as the Eurovision organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has finished so.

Earlier this 12 months, greater than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the 2025 competitors.