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Irish boycotts regarding Gaza humanitarian crisis

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2026-09-17 15:44 UTC → 2026-09-17 18:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In Ireland, political and cultural figures are increasingly calling for boycotts of Israeli-related events due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In the cultural sphere, the national broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed it will not participate in or broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria. This marks the second consecutive year of withdrawal for Ireland, following its absence from the 2026 event in Vienna. RTÉ stated that participation ‘cannot be justified’ due to the loss of life in Gaza and expressed concern regarding the lack of independent journalist access in the territory. This move follows similar decisions by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, which argued the competition cannot be viewed as neutral while a participating country is involved in a large-scale military conflict. Additionally, the Belgian broadcaster VRT has requested more time from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to decide its stance, citing concerns over rules regarding countries involved in armed conflicts. The EBU has faced mounting pressure regarding its decision to allow Israel's broadcaster, KAN, to participate. Eurovision Director Martin Green expressed regret over RTÉ’s decision but stated that the EBU respects the broadcaster’s autonomy. Simultaneously, political activists and figures, including TD Ruth Coppinger, have urged the Irish football team to boycott upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel, specifically the match scheduled for September 27, 2026. These calls are supported by the ‘Stop The Game’ campaign, which has gained traction among cultural figures such as KNEECAP and Christy Moore. While the Football Association of Ireland intends to proceed with matches to avoid disqualification, FIFA has moved the scheduled fixture to a neutral venue in Serbia.

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