Concerns Raised by Former Contestants
Nemo, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland last year, has publicly opposed Israel’s participation in the upcoming contest due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This sentiment is echoed by 70 former ESC participants, who expressed their views in an open letter. Spain and several other countries have also called for discussions regarding Israel’s involvement.
In an interview with Huffpost UK, Nemo, 25, stated, „I do not support Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.“ He further elaborated, „I support calls to exclude Israel from the ESC. Israel’s actions fundamentally violate the values that Eurovision claims to uphold – peace, unity, and respect for human rights.“
Background of the Contest
Nemo won the ESC in Malmö in 2024 with his song „The Code,“ which is why this year’s contest will be held in the Swiss border city of Basel. The final is scheduled for May 17.
Israel’s Participant and Recent Events
Israel will be represented by singer Yuval Raphael, 24, who survived the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. She was attending the Nova Music Festival when terrorists from Gaza committed a mass shooting. Her song, titled „New Day Will Rise,“ reflects themes of loss and hope.
Israel’s participation has already sparked significant protests and tensions during the Malmö event. The backdrop to this controversy is the ongoing war against Hamas, which began after a devastating attack by Palestinian terrorists on Israel. Since then, over 50,000 people have died in Gaza, where humanitarian aid has been blocked by the military for the past two months, leading to widespread hunger among the population. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid and selling it at inflated prices.