TRT World  December 4, 2025

Ireland says its participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Palestine’s Gaza.

Several countries have announced they will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest as Israel’s participation roils the competition. Widespread opposition to Israel’s Gaza genocide led to mounting calls for Israel to be excluded from the annual contest. The announcements on Thursday came after organisers cleared the way for Israel to take part. But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said after a meeting in Geneva that there had been “clear support” among members for reforms implemented to “reinforce trust and protect neutrality.” Yet moments after the EBU statement, public broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, who had all backed Israel’s exclusion, said their countries would not take part next year.

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Slovenia

Slovenia too rejected a call for a vote on Israel’s participation, national broadcaster RTV Slovenia said.

“Our message is: we will not participate if Israel is there. On behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza,” said RTV Slovenia Board Chairperson Natalija Gorscak.

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