Thousands of protesters gathered in Malmö, Sweden on Thursday to demonstrate against Israel’s participation in the Eurovision song contest. The protest coincided with the city hosting the competition’s second semi-final, where Israel’s entrant Eden Golan performed her song “Hurricane.”
During Wednesday’s rehearsal, Golan faced booing from the crowd. However, the response on Thursday was more mixed, with cheers and some boos during her live performance.
Ahead of Golan’s appearance, pro-Palestinian protesters, outnumbering a smaller group of pro-Israeli demonstrators, took to the streets of Malmö. Swedish police estimated the pro-Palestinian protest had around 12,000 participants, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Thunberg stated there was a “moral obligation to act” and speak out against Israel’s military operation in Gaza. “If we are tens of thousands of people flooding the streets of Malmö when Eurovision is taking place, saying we will not accept this to continue, then it’s a very strong signal – and it does make a difference,” she said.
Another protester, Matilda Varatta, expressed a desire to see Israel disqualified from Eurovision, similar to Russia’s exclusion in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
Prior to her performance, Golan stated she was “proud to represent my country” and that “nothing will deter” her, focusing on “music” and “good energy” despite the opposition.
In a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Golan luck, claiming she had “already won” after “successfully confronting” what he described as a “horrible wave of antisemitism” in Sweden.
At the pro-Israel demonstration, supporters sang Golan’s song “Hurricane” amid a significant police presence aimed at maintaining security and preventing potential unrest.
The events occurred amid an ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ cross-border attacks on southern Israel. The conflict has resulted in casualties and hostilities between the two sides.