A fan holds an 'Israeli' flag during the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest
Netherlands to boycott 2027 Eurovision over 'Israeli’ participation
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- Dutch broadcaster to boycott Eurovision over ‘Israel’s’ continued participation.
Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros has officially announced its withdrawal from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest Monday, stating that the international competition can no longer be considered neutral while 'Israel' continues to participate amid its ongoing military aggression on Gaza.
In a statement released Monday, Avrotros cited a lack of transparent framework from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizers of the competition, regarding how countries engaged in severe international conflicts and human rights violations are evaluated for eligibility.
"The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom have contributed to increasing divisions surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years," the broadcaster declared, noting that participation under current conditions directly conflicts with its core institutional values of human rights and independence.
The decision extends a boycott that began during the previous competition cycle in Vienna, Austria, joining widespread international pushback against the EBU’s refusal to suspend 'Israel'.
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Mounting international boycotts
Avrotros's withdrawal is part of a growing wave of historic boycotts by European public broadcasters in opposition to the EBU's refusal to exclude 'Israel'.
Late last year, five national broadcasters, including Eurovision powerhouses Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, collectively pulled out of the 2026 competition.
The coordinated protest represented the largest boycott in the contest’s history since 1970. Broadcasters cited both the humanitarian toll of the ongoing assault on Gaza and concerns over 'Israeli' government campaigns attempting to influence voting outcomes.
While the EBU recently updated its regulations to bar countries involved in active armed conflicts from hosting the event if they win, Avrotros dismissed the measures as insufficient.
