Malmo, Sweden — The Eurovision Song Contest faced opposition in the Swedish city of Malmo as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets to protest against Israel's participation in the music competition. Demonstrators, carrying Palestinian flags, gathered in Stortorget square before marching through the city to a park near the Eurovision venue.
With chants and slogans condemning Israel, such as "Israel is a terror state," the protesters held a noisy yet peaceful rally calling for a cease-fire in the conflict with Hamas, while setting off smoke flares in the colors of the Palestinian flag.
One of the slogans used by the protesters has been criticized as highly controversial, as it references the creation of a Palestinian state and is considered by the Anti-Defamation League as an "antisemitic slogan commonly used in anti-Israel campaigns."
Protests in Malmo during Eurovision Week
While many protesters reject the slogan being rooted in racism or calling for violence, the ADL says "it is fundamentally a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, which would mean the dismantling of the Jewish state… It is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland."
There was a large police presence at the protest in Malmo on Thursday, with a helicopter hovering overhead and officers on rooftops with binoculars.
"It's important to be here," said Amani Eli-Ali, a Malmo resident of Palestinian heritage. "It's not okay for Sweden to arrange this Eurovision and have Israel in the contest."
Outrage over the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict brought a jarring juxtaposition to Eurovision week in Malmo. Music fans in colorful sequined outfits or draped in their national flags mixed in the streets with supporters of the Palestinian cause in traditional keffiyeh scarves.
Palestinian flags fly from windows and balconies along a pedestrianized thoroughfare that has been temporarily renamed "Eurovision street."
Pro-Palestinian groups plan to march again on Saturday, the day of the Eurovision final.
Israel's government warned its citizens of a "tangible concern" that Israelis could be targeted for attack in Malmo during the contest.
Organizers, who say they try to keep Eurovision a non-political event, with this year's theme being unity through music, have rejected calls to bar Israel over the conduct of its war against Hamas.
Israel was asked to change the lyrics of its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Originally titled "October Rain," the song was renamed "Hurricane" in light of recent events. Despite the controversy, Israeli singer Eden Golan was permitted to continue in the competition.
Golan was set to perform in a semi-final on Thursday, with some audience members expressing disapproval during a dress rehearsal the day before.
Critics of Israel's participation point to past instances where countries were disqualified from Eurovision. Russia was removed in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus was ejected the year before due to government actions against dissent.
Protester Anders Trolle-Schultz voiced his opinion, stating, "We're supposed to be united by music but we're not united, because Israel is participating." He suggested inviting a Palestinian music group to participate as a fair alternative.
