Ireland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates

In a statement, RTÉ said Ireland's participation in this event “would be unacceptable given the continued and terrible loss of lives in Gaza”.

Ireland has won the competition a total of seven times last time in 1996.

RTÉ will make a final decision once Eurovision organisers, the European Union of Broadcasting (EBU), have made their decision.

Next year's competition will be held in Vienna in May, reports Telegraph, broadcast Periscope.

Slovenia's national broadcaster, RTV SLO has also declared that it will withdraw from the race if Israel participates.

Spain's Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has said that even his country may not participate if Israel is involved.

In a statement Thursday, RTÉ said: “The stance of RTÉ is that Ireland will not take part in the Eurovision song contest 2026, if Israel participates, and the final decision on Ireland's participation will be made after the EBU decision is taken.

RTÉ also added: “RTÉ is also deeply concerned about the intentional killings of journalists in Gaza, the ban on access of international journalists to that territory, and the serious situation of hostages still located there”. /Periscope