Protestors called for an end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza (Picture: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Protests have been held in Tel Aviv against the backdrop of the Eurovision Song Contest, calling for a boycott of the contest to support Palestinians.

The 2019 song contest has been one of the most controversial to date, due to it taking place in Tel Aviv, Israel, following Netta’s win with Toy last year in Lisbon.

There have been many calls to boycott the contest due to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the recent flare-up of violence between the Israeli Army and militants in Gaza.

And as the first semi-final kicked off, protestors set up shop outside Expo Tel Aviv, where Eurovision is being held, and in Habima Square to demand the removal of Israel’s continuing blockade on Gaza.




Signs reading ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Boycott Eurovision’ were held while rehearsals were underway in Tel Aviv, with one sign reading: ‘Songs and glitter cannot hide homeland being occupied.’

Others waved Palestinian flags at the peaceful protest.

There have been calls to boycott Eurovision, which is being held in Tel Aviv (Picture: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The demonstration was held outside Expo Tel Aviv and in Habima Square (Picture: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Israel’s hosting of Eurovision 2019 has resulted in thousands of fans boycotting the contest and hosting anti-Eurovision parties and fundraisers to side with Palestine.

Tensions flared even more following last week’s clash between Israeli soldiers and Gaza militants, with four people in Israel and 20 people in Gaza being killed during two days of fighting before a ceasefire was restored.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has called for a complete cultural boycott of Israel since 2005, insisting that the violation of human rights in Palestine cannot be ignored.

This has resulted in a number of petitions being signed in favour of the boycott, with Roger Waters, Dame Vivienne Westwood and Mercury Prize winners Wolf Alice all signing.

Wolf Alice guitarist Joff Oddie told Sky News claimed that Israel was using Eurovision and wider culture to ‘whitewash over their human rights abuses’, and claimed the boycott was a response to ‘a call from Palestinian civil society.

Left wing Israelis were in attendance (Picture: MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)

The contest is being held in Tel Aviv after Netta’s win (Picture: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

However, others have opposed the boycott, including Stephen Fry, Rachel Riley, Gene Simmons and Sharon Osbourne, who said the ‘spirit of togetherness’ was under attack.

Madonna – who is believed to be performing at Saturday’s final, although it has not yet been confirmed – seemed to reject calls to boycott the contest, saying: ‘I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda nor will I stop speaking out against violations of human rights wherever in the world they may be.

‘My heart breaks every time I hear about the innocent lives that are lost in this region and the violence that is so often perpetuated to suit the political goals of people who benefit from this ancient conflict.

‘I hope and pray that we will soon break free from this terrible cycle of destruction and create a new path towards peace.’

Meanwhile, the BBC refused to stall any of their coverage, saying Eurovision is ‘not a political event’.

A statement read: ‘The competition has always supported the values of friendship, inclusion, tolerance and diversity and we do not believe it would be appropriate to use the BBC’s participation for political reasons,” it said.



‘Because of this we will be taking part in this year’s event. The host country is determined by the rules of the competition, not the BBC.’

The second semi-final takes place on Thursday 16 May, with the final airing on Saturday 18 May.

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