Arya News - A Eurovision winner is to return their trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in the contest.
A Eurovision winner is to return their trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in the contest.
Nemo, the Swiss non-binary singer who won in 2024 with “The Code”, said Israel’s continued participation went against the event’s ideals of inclusion and dignity for all people.
The comments are the latest protest against the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Eurovision organiser, over Israel’s inclusion after the war in Gaza.
After the EBU cleared Israel last week to take part in next year’s contest, five countries pulled out. On Wednesday, Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV said it would not take part, joining Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia .
Yuval Raphael represented Israel last year, finishing in second place - AP/Martin Meissner
“Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion, and dignity for all people. And these are the values that make this contest so meaningful for me,” Nemo said in an Instagram post.
“But Israel’s continued participation, during what the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry (on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel) has concluded to be a genocide, shows there’s a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions the EBU is making.”
Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations it has committed a genocide, saying it has respected international law and had a right to defend itself after the cross-border Hamas-led attack from Gaza on Oct 7, 2023, that started the war.
The war in Gaza has prompted five countries to pull out of next year’s Eurovision - AFP/Omar al-Qattaa
Nemo, who uses they/them pronouns, said it was clear something was deeply wrong when countries pulled out of the event, adding they would send their Eurovision trophy back to the EBU’s headquarters in Geneva.
“This is not about individuals or artists. It’s about the fact that the contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insists that this contest is non-political ,” Nemo said.
The singer added that they had a clear message for the EBU.
“Live what you claim. If the values we celebrate on stage aren’t lived off stage, then even the most beautiful songs become meaningless,” Nemo said.
“I’m waiting for the moment those words and actions align. Until then, this trophy is yours.”
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