Leve Palestina composer in Sweden’s Malmo where thousands protest Israel’s participation in Eurovision

By Atila Altuntas

MALMO, Sweden (AA) - George Totari, the composer of the iconic pro-Palestinian song Leve Palestina, is in Sweden’s Malmo, where thousands of people are protesting Israel’s participation in the Eurovision.

Totari, who is originally from Nazareth, shared with Anadolu how, through the song, he wanted to tell what Israel did to his country.

“What politicians talk about is forgotten, (but) a song remains in people's minds,” he said, before singing the anthem for Anadolu.

Activists from across Europe have gathered in the southern coastal city, marching in solidarity with Palestine. The situation is being carefully monitored by the organizing committee and local security services, expecting a high turnout.

On May 2, the Eurovision organizers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that those attempting to enter the Malmo Arena with a Palestinian flag or a banner containing political messages, would be stopped, and the flags or banners confiscated, according to the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper.

The announcement came amid heightened tensions over Israel’s participation in the song competition as the country raises a war on Gaza.

The war has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians so far, mostly women and children, while tens of thousands have been injured, with many missing or unaccounted for.

Pro-Palestinian groups were expected to stage large protests in the host city alongside the event on Thursday and Saturday.

Malmo Police Department spokesperson Nils Norling said they were expecting over 100,000 demonstrators in the city, according to national broadcaster SVT Nyheter.

Over 20,000 people from various European countries are also expected to travel to Malmo to protest Israel’s participation in the music competition.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel from Istanbul