Stephen HollyMalmö, Sweden – Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the Eurovision 2024 host city of Malmö on Thursday, protesting Israel’s participation in the song contest amid the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
As the southern Swedish city prepared to welcome around 100,000 visitors for the annual event, a large crowd gathered at the central Stortorget square, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “boycott Israel.”
“Young people are leading the way and showing the world how we should react to this,” said Thunberg, 21, who was wrapped in a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.
The protests come as Israeli contestant Eden Golan, 20, is set to perform her song “Hurricane” in the second semi-final later on Thursday, despite calls for Israel’s exclusion over the military campaign triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack.
Heightened security measures were in place around the Malmö Arena, with metal barricades, concrete blocks, and a significant police presence. Visitors were required to pass through metal detectors and have their bags checked before entering the venue.
While Swedish authorities braced for potential unrest, protester Kasia Wiatrowska expressed her mixed feelings, stating, “I do like Eurovision. We all love music. But this year, music is dividing people, and I don’t like that.”
Another protester, Palestinian Amar, highlighted the “hypocrisy and double standards” surrounding the situation, adding, “We are against what’s happening in Gaza right now. But I also want people to understand that we don’t hate Jews.”
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event, has resisted calls for Israel’s exclusion but asked the country to modify the lyrics of its original song, “October Rain,” which appeared to reference the Hamas attack.
Golan expressed her hope that her performance would help unite people, saying, “It’s a super important moment for us, especially this year. I feel honored to have the opportunity to be the voice of my country.”
