'Israel out of Eurovision': Thousands attend pro-Palestine rally in Malmo

Palestine flags and keffiyehs were seen flying high in Malmö, Sweden, as a large-scale pro-Palestine protest took place throughout the Eurovision host city on Thursday.

The demonstration against Israel came ahead of the second semi-final in the song contest this evening, where the country performed the song ‘Hurricane’.

Thousands of people from various European countries gathered at Stortorget, where many speeches took place on multiple mobile stages. Drums rang out and smoke from flares billowed as calls to “Free Free Palestine” were heard in different languages.

It follows campaigns across Europe calling on the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the competition due to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Chants of “dirty, dirty competition, Israel out of Eurovision” could be heard as the demonstration made its way to Mölleplatsen in the centre of the city. They were followed closely by police on foot, in vans and motorbikes while helicopters and drones swarmed above them.

Although there has been a sizeable police presence around Malmö’s Eurovision venue all week, police reinforcements have been called in from neighbouring countries, Denmark and Norway.

Protestors take part in the Stop Israel demonstration between Stortorget and Mölleplatsen in Malmö. Picture: Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP

Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 21, was at the Stop Israel demonstration, between Stortorget and Molleplatsen.

She was wearing a keffiyeh, a material commonly used to show support for Palestine, around her body in the centre of the crowd.

During the demonstrations, smoke canisters in the colours of the Palestinian flag were set off and protesters, some of whom have dogs, young children and bicycles with them, were carrying signs displaying images of Gaza civilians who have been injured amid the Hamas-Israel conflict.

At one point, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators were told to go back by police and, following shouts of “free Palestine”, returned to the main gathering.

There was also a banner done in the style of Eurovision with the words “genocide” on it, an accusation vigorously denied by Israel amid the war with Hamas.

A Protester holds up a sign reading "Say no to genocide" during a rally in Malmo. Picture: Johan NILSSON/AFP via Getty Images

Israel artist booed during performance 

At a dress rehearsal in Malmö Arena on Wednesday, Israeli artist Eden Golan was met with boos and shouts of “Free Palestine” from some members of the audience.

This was followed up in their performance on Thursday evening, with audible boos inside the arena.

Irish duo Jedward confirmed they intentionally left the arena during the Israeli act.

However, Ms Golan was voted through to Saturday's final.

The country originally submitted a ballad called October Rain for this year’s contest, widely thought to reference the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. However, the entry was barred on the grounds of breaking rules on political neutrality.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, responsible for choosing the country’s entry, later agreed to amend the song following the Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s call for “necessary adjustments” to ensure it could take part.

The revised song, now titled, “Hurricane,” replaced the original lyrics “There’s no air left to breathe” and “They were all good children, each one of them,” with “Every day I’m losing my mind” and “I’m still broken from this Hurricane.” 

Eden Golan of Israel performs the song Hurricane during the dress rehearsal. Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner

The Eurovision Broadcast Union continues to hold the position that the contest remains a non-political event that unites audiences around the world through music.

A Eurovision fan from Ireland has defended booing the Israeli singer. Rory Flynn, 27, from Kildare, told the PA news agency he is from the Eurovision Irish fan club and has started a “separate movement” to protest against Israel, adding the country’s entry in Sweden is “overshadowing the competition”.

He said: “We feel that it’s important to make our voices heard in the competition in the arena. Others are doing a full boycott — and full respect to people who are doing a full boycott — but we think it’s important that our voices are heard in the arena and around Malmo.” 

Mr Flynn also said his group booed during Golan’s dress rehearsals this week, adding: “This song is a propaganda song. OK, it was originally called October Rain and now it’s called Hurricane, you can see there, it’s the same melody; the lyrics have been changed at the request of the EBU (European Broadcast Union), but it is the same song.

“And it is about justifying Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and I think that says it all really, you know, I think it’s quite appropriate to kind of boo that propaganda.”