Thousands of protesters have gathered to demonstrate under the slogan “Stop Israel” between Stortorget Street and Molleplatsen Square in Malmö, Sweden, a few hours before the second semifinal of Eurovisionin which Eden Golan, the representative of Israel, will participate.
The organizers, who are protesting against Israel’s occupation war in the Gaza Strip, They expected up to 30,000 people to participate in the protest against the presence of Israel in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Malmö Arena.
Local media, such as Aftonbladet, There are around 5,000 people gathered in the square., with Palestinian flags and slogans in favor of peace and the end of Israel’s bombings and attacks, as well as calling for the boycott of this country in Eurovision. However, recently the media confirms that more protesters have arrived and it is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 12,000 people gathered.
At 4:00 p.m. the first demonstration began, which passed through the center of Malmö, under the slogan “Israel out of Eurovision”, among others. It is expected that this concentration will dissolve soon, since a pro-Israeli concentration begins at 6:00 p.m. in Davidshallstorg, also in the center of Malmö.
Malmö police have authorized for this Thursday no less than three demonstrationssince there is still another march called, pro-Palestinian again, for 8 p.m.
“We have a high police presence throughout Malmö, but We will allocate special resources for concentrations“Filip Annas, press spokesperson for the police in the southern region, told local media.
One of the most famous participants of the first demonstration called has been the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunbergwho came with a Palestinian scarf covering his back.
Big anti-Israel protest in Malmo, Sweden, ahead of the Eurovison contest tonight which features the Israeli singer Eden Golan pic.twitter.com/TceShiMCOz
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) May 9, 2024
The offensive in Gaza by Israel and The debate around the presence of this country in Eurovision 2024 enters fully into the festival with the celebration this Thursday of its second semi-final, in which professional juries and television viewers will decide if this country advances to its grand final.
The singer Eden Golan will be his representative with the ballad Hurricaneafter what The organizing committee of the contest will reject the first two songs presented for his political references to the Hamas attacks last October.
Golan, who was not present on the turquoise carpet that opened the festival, had his first official rehearsal with the public this Wednesday, in a performance in which numerous boos and whistles were heard at the Malmö Arena against the artist and her participation.
The Israeli public broadcaster Kan, which organizes Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, has filed a complaint with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and before the Swedish public broadcaster for the boos during the dress rehearsal against the Israeli candidate and for the pro-Palestinian messages shown in the first semifinal on Wednesday, among them, a Palestinian scarf shown by Swedish-Palestinian Eric Saade or the messages written in the Celtic language which showed on its face Bambie Thug, representative of Ireland.
