Thousands march in Sweden’s Malmo to protest Israel’s participation in Eurovision

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) – Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Saturday marched through the Swedish city of Malmo to protest Israel’s participation ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 final on Saturday evening.

Protesters waving Palestinian flags set off smoke flares in the colors of the Palestinian flag, chanting "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" and "Israel is a terror state" while calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

In March, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event, confirmed the participation of Israel’s act Eden Golan, despite worldwide calls for her elimination amid Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

A video from Friday night’s rehearsal in Malmo emerged on social media, showing loud and prolonged booing by others when Golan came on stage.

Earlier on Saturday, Eurovision organizers kicked out Dutch singer due to a controversy over an “incident,” claiming that their decision involved no other performer or delegation member.

The EBU launched an investigation into Dutch singer Joost Klein on Friday after he was heard asking Israel's contestant Eden Golan to justify her participation at a press conference amid Tel Aviv's intensified war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

However, the EBU claimed that its decision to disqualify Klein stemmed from his alleged verbal threats to a woman production worker at the event's venue in Malmo on Thursday night.

Ahead of the second semifinal on Thursday, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, took to the streets of Malmo, calling for Israel to be excluded.

Israel is trying to "artwash" Eurovision, by using artistic performance to distract from its actions in Gaza, Thunberg stated on X.

"The world cannot remain silent in a genocide," she said.

In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and as part of protests, an alternative music event, Falastinvision, will be held on the final day of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Many artists from Sweden and other parts of Europe will take part in their show of solidarity for Palestinians.

Authorities have taken additional security precautions, including arming police with submachine guns and bringing in reinforcements from Denmark and Norway.

Eurovision organizers on Wednesday rebuked one of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 opening acts for wearing a Palestinian scarf during the first semifinal.

Swedish singer Eric Saade was one of three former contestants who opened the contest, wearing a keffiyeh around his wrist.

The EBU said those who try to enter the Malmo Arena with a Palestinian flag or a banner containing a political message will be stopped and their flags or banners will be taken away, according to the Goteborgs-Posten newspaper.

Russia was barred in 2022 from Eurovision in Italy after Finland threatened to pull its performer unless it was banned due to Moscow’s decision to conduct a “special military operation” in Ukraine that year.

The EBU prevented Russia from participating in future competitions.