Over 70 past Eurovision participants sign open letter demanding Israel’s exclusion — including Salvador Sobral, Hadise and Daði Freyr

Rehearsals for Eurovision 2025 are now in full swing for this year’s 37 competing nations. But over 70 participants of previous contests have come together to call for the exclusion of one of those — Israel.

In an open letter to Eurovision organisers at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the signatories from 12 different countries accuse Israeli broadcaster Kan of being “complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza”. The artists note that “by continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes”.

The list of singers, songwriters, lyricists and other creatives that have signed the letter includes previous Eurovision winners Salvador Sobral (Portugal 2017) and Charlie McGettigan (Ireland 1994).

Scroll down to see the full letter and list of signatories

Participants from Iceland — including Daði Freyr, Sylvia Night, Pollapönk, Systur, Svala, Paul Oscar and Hatari — comprise the largest proportion of signatories. 

It comes after Iceland’s RÚV became the most recent competing broadcaster to share its opposition to Israel’s participation with the EBU. Slovenia’s RTVSLO and Spain’s RTVE have previously called for an open debate on Kan’s appearance at the contest.

This open letter is the latest of repeated calls from musicians, fans, unions, human rights activists, and other notable figures for Israel’s removal from Eurovision since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. The conflict has seen more than 52,000 people killed in Gaza, with multiple organisations accusing Israel of committing war crimes and acts of genocide.

The war began when Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The EBU has consistently shut down all previous calls for Israel’s exclusion. They state that the event is a competition between public broadcasters rather than governments, noting the contest must remain apolitical.

Most recently, EBU Director General, Noel Curran, responded to a letter by 26 Members of the European Parliament that similarly called for Israel to be removed from the contest. Curran stated:

“Participation in the Eurovision Song Contest is extended to all EBU member broadcasters. The Israeli broadcaster, Kan, is a full and active member of the EBU and is therefore eligible to take part. […] The EBU is also aligned with other international organizations, including sports unions and federations, that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.”

Slovenian MEP, Matjaž Nemec, noted the EBU did not convince them with its arguments:

“Eurovision is supposed to celebrate music, unity and cultural diversity. When the EBU allows double standards and avoids a clear defence of fundamental human rights, it betrays the very values ​​on which the event was built.”

Open letter in full: Eurovision participants call for Israel’s exclusion

We, the undersigned former Eurovision participants, urge all members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to demand the exclusion of KAN, the Israeli public broadcaster, from the Eurovision Song Contest. KAN is complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.

We believe in the unifying power of music, which is why we refuse to allow music to be used as a tool to whitewash crimes against humanity. Last year, we were appalled that the EBU allowed Israel to participate while it continued its genocide in Gaza broadcast live for the world to see. The result was disastrous.

Rather than acknowledging the widespread criticism and reflecting on its own failures, the EBU responded by doubling down — granting total impunity to the Israeli delegation while repressing other artists and delegations, making the 2024 edition the most politicized, chaotic and unpleasant in the competition’s history.

Silence is not an option. When authoritarian movements and the far-right are on the rise around the globe, our duty to speak out has only become more pressing. We therefore join together to state that the EBU’s complicity with Israel’s genocide must stop.

By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes. The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don’t accept this double standard regarding Israel.

We stand in solidarity with this year’s contestants and condemn the EBU’s repeated refusal to take responsibility.

As singers, songwriters, musicians and others who have had the privilege of participating in Eurovision, we urge the EBU and all its member broadcasters to act now and prevent further discredit and disruption to the festival: Israel must be excluded from Eurovision.

Full list of signatories

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