Eurovision Was Once a Lighthearted Spectacle – However It Has Become a Calculated Tool to Whitewash War.

An recent initialism came to light a few months following the onset of the military campaign against Gaza. Labeled WCNSF, it means “Injured child with no living relatives”. This term is specific to Gaza, according to doctors such as paediatricians. Ordinarily, it is rare for doctors to attend to a child who has seen the death of their entire family. But, there has been nothing “normal” about the devastating conflict in Gaza, where whole bloodlines have been obliterated and the number of children who have lost limbs exceeds that of any other region in the world. Nothing normal about many doctors returning from a sea of ruins with reports of children being intentionally shot at.

An Unimaginable Crisis In Spite Of a Announced Cessation of Hostilities

The Gaza Strip continues to be an utter catastrophe. Essential medical supplies are failing to reach those in need, and major human rights organizations assert that violations are ongoing. Authorities has denied these allegations, just as it disavows each claim it is accused of. Yet as traumatised orphans are now suffering from the cold in temporary shelters, there is a little heartwarming news: apparently nothing is going to stop the Eurovision song contest from advancing its stated mission of “togetherness and artistic sharing.” Eurovision will continue to roll out a blood-red carpet for Israel, even though at least four European countries have now boycotted in dissent. Since this, we are told, is what global togetherness manifests as.

The contest, notably prohibited Russia from competing in 2022 because of the “grave situation in Ukraine”. Yet the conflict in Gaza is treated differently.

Contradictory Principles

Forget the fact that Israel was alleged to have used irregular participation methods last year in what seems to have been an effort to manipulate Eurovision. Ignore the report that a three-year-old girl was reportedly killed in Gaza recently. Forget the fact that attacks by settlers and forced displacement in the West Bank have surged. Forget the fact that global media are still denied freely reporting in Gaza. This entire context, it would seem, should be allowed to get in the way of Eurovision’s self-proclaimed spirit of unity.

The Pageant Proceeds Against a Backdrop of Unimaginable Suffering

The contest turns 70 next year – almost double the projected longevity of a person in Gaza today. The event will proceed, but it will find it impossible to reclaim the whimsical pleasure it was formerly known for. A competition that was originally built on peace has devolved into a blatant mechanism to whitewash war.