The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has responded to Madonna’s comments on her slated Eurovision performance.

Amid controversy, Madonna addressed her planned performance in Israel by saying that will defend human rights and hopes to see “a new path toward peace.”

“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,” she added in a statement issued to Reuters.

She added: “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.”

Now PACBI, a founding member of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee, said, “true solidarity means heeding the call of the oppressed.”

Madonna is scheduled to play two songs at Eurovision.

PACBI added, “At a time when fewer and fewer major artists are performing in apartheid Tel Aviv, Eurovision is exactly what Israel’s far-right government needs to distract from its crimes.”

“Artwashing Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians for a million dollars must be among the most immoral political agendas.”

On Monday, dozens of Palestinian women artists published an open letter to Madonna, writing that: “The far-right Israeli government and its supporters would love nothing more than to use your iconic artistic achievements and global philanthropy to obscure its crimes against humanity”.

More than 150,000 people have signed petitions calling for the boycott of the contest hosted by Israel, and over 100 LGBTQ+ organisations have joined the campaign.

The Palestinian-led BDS movement aims to end Israel’s military occupation, achieve full equality for Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, and secure the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

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