Spanish public broadcaster RTVE said Spain will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel continues to participate in the competition.
The decision is a protest against Israeli actions in Gaza and comes as a United Nations commission concludes that Israel is committing genocide there—an accusation the Israelis deny, saying the report is one-sided and biased.
There is a growing movement spanning politics, diplomacy, business, and culture to isolate Israel and pile pressure on it to end its war against the militant group Hamas in Gaza, a conflict that has taken a huge toll on the civilian population in the enclave.
In a statement, RTVE said Spain is the first Big Five member of the Eurovision—the contest’s five largest financial backers—to make the move. It follows similar announcements by Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
A spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which administers the contest, earlier said it is consulting with members about how to tackle the Israel issue.
“The consultation with the wider EBU membership is ongoing and no decisions will be made until the process concludes,” the spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
The spokesperson said that they “understand the concerns and deeply-held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” but that EBU members are still being consulted “to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision Song Contest.”
This is a developing article. Updates to follow.