Ireland boycotts Eurovision 2025 over Israel's participation amid Gaza war
Ireland joins four other nations—Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—in boycotting the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. This decision stems from the European Broadcasting Union's choice to permit Israel's participation during its conflict in Gaza. Instead of broadcasting the event from Austria, national broadcaster RTÉ will air an episode of Father Ted. This boycott aligns with Ireland's denunciation of Israel's military conduct, its acknowledgment of a Palestinian state in 2024, and its backing of South Africa's genocide case against Israel. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the withdrawal as a gesture of solidarity with journalists who lost their lives in Gaza. In response, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar referred to Dublin as "the capital of antisemitism." The grand final is scheduled for Saturday in Vienna.
Key facts
- Ireland is boycotting Eurovision 2025 along with Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain.
- The boycott is over the EBU's decision to allow Israel to participate during its war in Gaza.
- RTÉ will not broadcast the contest; instead it will air a Father Ted Eurovision episode.
- Israel's war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
- Israel's offensive has killed 72,628 people in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
- Ireland recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 and supported South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel.
- Israel closed its embassy in Ireland in December 2024, citing extreme anti-Israel policies.
- The EBU warned Israeli broadcaster Kan after Noam Bettan urged fans to vote multiple times.
Entities
Artists
- Noam Bettan
- Stephen Rea
- Johnny Logan
- Dana
- Graham Linehan
- Brian Kerr
- Paul Weller
- Bobby Gillespie
Institutions
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- RTÉ
- Kan
- BBC News NI
- Holocaust Awareness Ireland
- Irish Sport For Palestine
- Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
- International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- UEFA
Locations
- Ireland
- Dublin
- Austria
- Vienna
- Israel
- Gaza
- Netherlands
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Iceland
- Belfast
- Manchester
- United Kingdom
- South Africa