“Voices from all over the world are being raised to demand a ceasefire. Yet theEurovision remains silent”. The president of the deputies of La France insoumise, Mathilde Panotcalled this Wednesday, May 8 on X (formerly Twitter) to “exclude Israel” of the 2024 edition of the song competition in order to obtain a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Israel plays the second semi-final of Eurovision this Thursday, May 9, before the final on Saturday, May 11. “In the name of peace and love for culture, we, deputies of European countries, MEPs, artists, citizens, call to exclude Israel from Eurovision,” added Mathilde Panot, concluding: “We will not let Palestine to disappear.
Since the beginning of the year, petitions have multiplied to demand the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision. At the end of March, candidates from nine countries, including Bambie Thug (Ireland) called for a lasting ceasefire. This Tuesday, May 7, during the first semi-final, Swedish singer Éric Saade, whose father is of Palestinian origin, protested against Israel’s participation by wearing a keffiyeh around his arm during his performance.
The Israeli army carried out airstrikes this Wednesday, May 8 and deadly “targeted” operations in the Palestinian town of Rafah threatened with a major ground offensive, at a time when negotiations are being held in Cairo for a truce between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas is responsible for a unprecedented attack against Israel carried out on October 7, 2023 from Gaza which left more than 1,170 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official data. More than 250 people were kidnapped during the attack and 128 remain captive in Gaza36 of whom are considered dead, according to the army.
The Israeli response was devastating : the deluge of fire on the Gaza Strip where some 2.4 million Palestinians are crowded together has cost the lives of 34,844 people so far according to Hamascaused a humanitarian catastrophe with a famine situation in the north according to the UN and colossal destruction.
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