The Netherlands has issued an ultimatum to the organizers of Eurovision 2026

The Netherlands intends to boycott the Eurovision 2026 international music contest if Israel participates. This was reported by the press service of the Dutch broadcasting company AVROTROS.

"AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel's involvement in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.

Also, the Dutch broadcaster is "seriously concerned" about the lack of press freedom and the proven interference of the Israeli government in last year's contest, which was used as a "political tool."

"The broadcaster has decided that AVROTROS' participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is impossible as long as Israel remains part of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union)," the company also stressed.

The statement states that if Israel is not accepted next year, representatives of the Netherlands will be happy to come to the competition.

As EADaily reported, earlier, a former member of the Israeli delegation at Eurovision, Amir Alon, said that the participating countries of the future international Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which is to be held in Austria, split into two camps because of support or opposition to Israeli policies.

So, two countries of the "Big Five" — Italy and Germany have threatened not to take part in the competition in the event of the removal of Israel, if there are no legal grounds for such a step. Greece, Cyprus and Azerbaijan are also expected to take the side of Israel.

At the same time Iceland and Spain publicly supported the exclusion of Israel from the list of participants in the contest, this point of view is supported by Slovenia and several other countries that have not made official comments. Sweden, the host of the last contest, and Austria, where the contest will be held in 2026, also expressed open support for Israel.