Netherlands pulls out of next year's Eurovision because of 'sensitivities' over Israel

The Netherlands has pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster announced, citing 'sensitivities' over Israel's participation.

Jet de Ranitz, executive chairman of broadcaster NPO, said in a statement: 'We must conclude that it is currently too early to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.'

'Due to the sensitivities surrounding the themes currently at play, we have decided to take a step back for the time being,' he added.

Mr Ranitz acknowledged the broadcaster's decision would disappoint many Dutch Eurovision fans and stressed the contest would still be aired on public channels. 

The singing competition has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation, in protest at the country's deadly offensive in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas militant attacks in 2023.

Earlier this month, the Czech public broadcaster also pulled out, but cited spending cuts as the reason.

Ireland has already announced it will not be taking part, while the head of the Spanish public broadcaster has come out in favour of a boycott.

The competition next year is set to be held in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas after it won for the first time in May. 

The contest was founded in 1956, in part to help unite a shattered continent after World War II.

It pits acts from dozens of countries against one another for the continent’s musical crown.

Long a forum for good-natured and sometimes more pointed national rivalries, Eurovision has found it hard to separate pop and politics in recent years.

Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Tensions rose again after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed some 1,200 people, and Israel's subsequent campaign in Gaza that has left more than 70,000 people dead. 

Calls for Israel to be kicked out have swelled over the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in the conflict. 

The 2024 Eurovision contest in Malmo, Sweden, the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland and this year’s contest in Vienna saw pro-Palestinian protests and heightened security.

Several performers and countries have called for the exclusion of Israel, which has competed in Eurovision since 1973, one of the few non-European countries to do so.