The director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, is facing criticism for not explicitly mentioning Gaza in an open letter addressing the boycott of next year's event by several countries. The letter, published on December 11, comes one week after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026.
In the message, Green addressed fans experiencing "strong emotions" regarding "events in the Middle East," referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict that has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and more than 2,000 Israeli deaths. He stated the EBU hears and understands the anger from those who perceive "silence in the face of tragedy," while emphasizing the contest's founding principles of unity and celebration.
Green noted the EBU respects the decision of the five countries—Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia—that have withdrawn in protest of Israel's inclusion. He stressed that the contest's continuation depends on being "guided by our rules first and foremost" and that rule-breaking at the 2026 event would not be tolerated.
The response to the letter has been sharply critical. José Pablo López, president of Spain's national broadcaster RTVE, condemned Green on social media for failing to "call things by their name," arguing that referring to a "genocide" merely as "events" is insufficient. López's statement referenced a September United Nations commission of inquiry report that concluded Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding Israel's government has rejected. The British government has stated it has "not concluded" a genocide is occurring.
López also questioned the timing of Green's commitment to enforcing rules, alluding to past allegations that the Israeli government used advertising campaigns to influence voting for its 2024 entrant. He suggested rules are applied selectively based on "geopolitical and economic alliances."
The controversy unfolds after EBU members recently voted for new rules restricting governments and third parties from disproportionate campaigning for their acts. This vote also ended further discussion on Israel's participation.
Beyond the national broadcasters' boycott, Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo from Switzerland announced they would return their trophy in protest. Additional content creators and unaffiliated event organizers have also stated they will step back from the 2026 contest, which is scheduled for May in Vienna.
