The Netherlands has joined four European nations in pledging to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel remains in the line-up, citing concerns over Gaza and press freedom.
Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS confirmed on Thursday that the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest unless Israel is excluded, adding to mounting pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
AVROTROS said it could “no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation,” referencing “severe human suffering in Gaza” and claiming “proven evidence of interference by the Israeli government” during the 2025 contest. It also raised concerns about press freedom and the use of Eurovision “as a political instrument.”
The Netherlands joins Slovenia, Iceland, Spain and Ireland in announcing conditional boycotts of the 2026 event, set to be held in Vienna in May.
Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said this week that Israel’s participation would “normalise” the ongoing conflict and urged the EBU to act. He described Israel as a “genocidal government” and reiterated calls from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in May to exclude the country, drawing comparisons with Russia’s 2022 ban following its invasion of Ukraine.
Israel has in the past strongly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says they are justified as self defence.
The EBU has extended its deadline for penalty-free withdrawal from the contest to December, when a final decision on Israel’s inclusion is expected. The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna, with semi-finals on 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May.
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President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
'One Battle After Another' tops the Oscars with 6 awards, followed by 'Sinners' which takes 4, 'Frankenstein' 3 and Netflix's most-watched film in its history, 'KPop Demon Hunters' winning 2. There was also the rare event of a tie.
The Academy Awards nominations have been announced, with the crime drama Sinners leading the race securing a record 16 nominations ahead of the ceremony set for 15 March. The event, which honours the film industry’s top achievements over the past year, will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees has said a U.S. travel ban is preventing him from attending the 2026 Academy Awards this Sunday (15 March), where a film in which he stars is nominated for best international feature.
Netflix has announced a sequel to the hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters, with director Maggie Kang saying she is excited to show audiences what more is in store.
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