Over 30,000 people in Malmö protest Israel's participation in Eurovision

(Patria) - Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of the Swedish city of Malmö on Saturday, protesting Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, the grand final of which is scheduled for this evening.

Around 30,000 people gathered in Stortorget Square at the invitation of numerous non-governmental organizations in the country, demanding Israel's exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Demonstrators carried banners reading “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Stop the genocide,” and “Palestine forever,” and chanted “Free Palestine.”

During speeches, it was emphasized that Israel has been bombing Palestinians for almost 200 days, including children, babies, the elderly, and women, and Israel's participation in Eurovision was described as “hypocrisy.”

The protest was organized amid heightened tensions in the Scandinavian country regarding Israel's participation in Eurovision, as Tel Aviv continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip, where nearly 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since October last year.

Authorities took additional security measures to prevent any incidents during the demonstrations. Police teams from Norway and Denmark came to Malmö in support.

Last week, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to ban contestants, performers, and fans from displaying Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian symbols during the Eurovision Song Contest.

The EBU announced that those attempting to enter Malmö Arena with a Palestinian flag or a banner containing a political message would be stopped, and the flags or banners confiscated.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be held tonight at 9 PM local time, organized by the EBU and the Swedish national television SVT.