Several people were arrested on Saturday outside Malmö Stadium, where the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest is being held, in Sweden, during protests against Israel’s participation in the contest, which brought together thousands of people. According to Europe Press, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is among the arrested demonstrators.
The protests have been taking place since noon today in front of the building where the final match of the festival began at eight in the evening in Lisbon, in which 25 countries compete, including Israel.
The demonstrators gathered at the entrance to Malmo Stadium, restricted the entry of the public, and directed at them words such as: “What a shame!”
Today’s protest, which began in Stortorget Square, was called by the Stop Israel platform for peace and free Palestine, which brings together more than 60 organisations. On Thursday, thousands of people marched through the streets of Malmö demanding Israel’s expulsion from the competition, in a demonstration called by Barim Israel.
The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is marked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has lasted for decades, but intensified after an attack by the Palestinian movement Hamas in Israel, in October 7which killed nearly 1,200 people, as the state led by Benjamin Netanyahu responded with an attack that killed more than 34,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to reports from both sides.
Since it became known that Israel will participate in the contest, represented by Eden Golan, several appeals have been submitted by European political representatives and artists to the EBU in order to reject the country’s participation in the contest.
Israel, one of 25 countries competing in today’s Eurovision final, was the first non-European country to be able to participate in the song contest, in 1973, and has won four times, including with transgender singer Dana International, in 1998.
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