VIENNA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Several European public broadcasters have announced they will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to exclude Israel from the competition.
Spain's state broadcaster RTVE, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Ireland's public broadcaster RTE and Slovenia's national broadcaster RTVSLO said on Thursday they would not take part in the May 16, 2026 event, citing Israel's military actions in Gaza.
The move follows mounting criticism of Israel's participation. In May, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had urged the EBU to bar Israel as long as its military campaign in Gaza continued. RTVE, which aired the 2025 contest, was reportedly warned by organizers not to mention Israel's operations during the final. In response, RTVE displayed an onscreen message before the broadcast stating: "In the face of human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine."
AVROTROS said the contest had been used as a "political instrument" by the Israeli government through a promotional campaign supporting its entry. General Manager Taco Zimmerman said the withdrawal "has not been an easy decision," but that "universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised."
Ireland's RTE said participation was "unconscionable" given the "appalling loss of lives in Gaza" and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Slovenia also confirmed its withdrawal on Thursday.
Some countries have yet to make a final decision. Iceland's broadcaster RUV said its board will meet next week to make a final decision, adding it had previously recommended excluding Israel.
However, Germany warned it could leave the contest if Israel were banned, while Austria, the 2026 host nation, expressed support for Israel's entry. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger welcomed the EBU decision in a post on social platform X.
Following a meeting in Geneva, the EBU said on Thursday it would not call a vote on Israel's participation and instead approved new rules aimed at preventing government interference in the contest.
Eurovision, founded in 1956 to foster unity in postwar Europe, is one of the world's longest-running televised events. AVROTROS said in an earlier statement that it could not justify Israel's participation given the "ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza."
Till today, Gaza continues to face a worsening humanitarian situation. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect on Oct. 10, hospitals and essential services remain overwhelmed, and most of the enclave's 2 million residents are still living in tents and temporary shelters with little sign of improved conditions. ■