Eurovision Was Once a Lighthearted Spectacle – But It Has Become a Calculated Tool to Gloss Over Warfare.

A freshly coined initialism surfaced a few months into the military campaign against Gaza. Referred to as WCNSF, it stands for “Wounded child, no surviving family”. This term is specific to Gaza, per insights from medical experts like child health specialists. Typically, it is rare for doctors to treat a young patient who has been bereaved of their entire family. However, there has been no semblance of normality regarding the widespread destruction in Gaza, where whole bloodlines have been eradicated and the number of children who have lost limbs is greater than that of any other place in the world. Nothing normal about scores of doctors returning from a sea of ruins with testimonies of children being intentionally shot at.

A Hell on Earth Despite a Supposed Ceasefire

Conditions in Gaza persist as a profound humanitarian disaster. Essential medical supplies are not getting in those in need, and international watchdogs have stated that atrocities are still being committed. The Israeli government has denied these accusations, consistent with how it disavows all charges it is implicated in. Yet as grieving children who lost parents are now suffering from the cold in improvised encampments, there is some ostensibly positive news: nothing is going to stop the Eurovision song contest from pursuing its stated mission of “togetherness and cultural exchange.” The contest will continue to extend a welcoming platform for Israel, although several European countries have now withdrawn in objection. And this, it seems, is what global togetherness resembles.

Eurovision, of course prohibited Russia from participating in 2022 over the “grave situation in Ukraine”. However, the situation in Gaza appears to be entirely distinct.

A Double Standard

Disregard the reality that Israel was criticized for questionable voting tactics last year in what seems to have been an bid to manipulate Eurovision. Forget the fact that a toddler was allegedly fatally struck in Gaza on a recent Sunday. Forget the fact that attacks by settlers and systematic expulsions in the West Bank have increased dramatically. Forget the fact that global media are still prevented from freely reporting in Gaza. None of this, it would seem, should be allowed to get in the way of Eurovision’s much-touted ethos of unity.

The Pageant Proceeds Against a Backdrop of Profound Human Cost

Eurovision marks seven decades next year – nearly twice the current lifespan of a person in Gaza now. The broadcast will air, but it will find it impossible to reclaim the camp joy it was formerly known for. A contest that was originally built on peace has transformed into a blatant mechanism to sanitize military aggression.