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Ireland withdraws from Eurovision amid Gaza war controversy
Ireland has boycotted this year's Eurovision Song Contest, citing Israel's involvement in the competition as unconscionable amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The national broadcaster RTÉ will not air the event, marking a departure from the country's historic ties to the contest.
Why Ireland opted out
RTÉ announced the decision, stating that Ireland's participation would be indefensible given the "appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis." The broadcaster also condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza and restrictions on international media access to the territory.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin framed the boycott as an act of solidarity with journalists killed in violation of international humanitarian law. Ireland, along with Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, is protesting the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) decision to allow Israel to compete.
Controversy over Israel's Eurovision presence
Israel's participation has been contentious since its military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023, following Hamas's attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that Israel's campaign has killed 72,628 people.
Protests have marred Israel's Eurovision appearances in 2024 and 2025, with contestants requiring armed security. Last year, Israel's entry won the public vote amid allegations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's social media campaigns influenced the result. The EBU later revised voting rules but did not exclude Israel.
This year, the EBU issued a formal warning to Israel's broadcaster, Kan, after its contestant, Noam Bettan, urged fans to "vote 10 times for Israel." Bettan later expressed surprise at disruptions during his semi-final performance.
Mixed reactions in Ireland
Public opinion in Dublin appears divided. Young people interviewed by BBC News NI largely supported the boycott. Celine Flanagan, visiting from Manchester, argued that no country should participate, while Aline Capucho and Augusto Neto agreed Israel's inclusion was inappropriate.
However, the decision drew criticism from some quarters. Former Irish minister Alan Shatter, a member of the Jewish community, accused RTÉ of "moral bankruptcy," claiming the broadcaster caved to pressure. Graham Linehan, co-creator of the sitcom Father Ted, launched a petition demanding the resignation of RTÉ's director general, calling the boycott "antisemitism." RTÉ declined to comment on Linehan's remarks.
Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland, opposed the boycott, arguing it unfairly targets Israel's diverse population. "You are saying to a whole country, 20% of whom are Arab Muslims, that you are not good enough," he said. Sears also highlighted rising antisemitic incidents in Ireland, describing a "chronic lack of knowledge" about Jewish issues.
Broader tensions between Ireland and Israel
Ireland's stance on Gaza has strained relations with Israel. In 2024, Ireland recognized a Palestinian state and supported South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a charge Israel denies. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar labeled Dublin "the capital of antisemitism," and Israel closed its embassy in Ireland in December 2024, citing the government's "extreme anti-Israel policies."
Further controversy erupted over a proposal to rename Herzog Park in Dublin, named after former Israeli president Chaim Herzog, who was born in Belfast. Prime Minister Martin called the plan "overtly divisive and wrong."
Sports could also become a flashpoint, with Ireland set to face Israel in the UEFA Nations League this autumn. An open letter signed by former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and musicians Paul Weller and Bobby Gillespie urged a boycott, but the Football Association of Ireland confirmed it will fulfill the fixtures.
What's next for Eurovision in Ireland?
Instead of broadcasting the grand final, RTÉ will air a Eurovision-themed episode of Father Ted, originally released in 1996. The episode, A Song for Europe, satirizes Ireland's Eurovision dominance in the 1990s, when the country won three consecutive contests.
