The Eurovision Song Contest Was Traditionally a Campy Joy – But It Has Become a Calculated Tool to Gloss Over Warfare.

A recent term came to light several months following the onset of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Known as WCNSF, it signifies “Child casualty without any family left”. This term is found only in Gaza, per insights from health professionals such as child health specialists. Ordinarily, it is rare for doctors to attend to a minor who has been bereaved of their complete family. However, there has been no semblance of normality concerning the widespread destruction in Gaza, where whole bloodlines have been eradicated and the number of child amputees surpasses that of anywhere else in the world. No sense of normalcy in scores of doctors returning from a sea of ruins with testimonies of children being systematically aimed at.

A Hell on Earth In Spite Of a Reported Truce

The Gaza Strip continues to be a profound humanitarian disaster. Vital medicines and equipment are failing to reach those in need, and international watchdogs have stated that violations are still being committed. The Israeli government has denied these allegations, just as it refutes everything it is charged with. But while young survivors are now suffering from the cold in temporary shelters, there is a little heartwarming news: nothing is going to stop the international singing competition from advancing its stated mission of “unity and cultural exchange.” Organizers will continue to offer a welcoming platform for Israel, even though a number of European countries have now pulled out in protest. Because this, it seems, is what international harmony looks like.

Eurovision, of course excluded Russia from competing in 2022 because of the “unprecedented crisis in Ukraine”. Yet the conflict in Gaza is completely different.

A Double Standard

Disregard the reality that Israel was criticized for questionable voting tactics last year in what seems to have been an effort to politicise Eurovision. Ignore the report that a three-year-old girl was reportedly killed in Gaza on a recent Sunday. Pay no mind to the evidence that settler violence and coerced removal in the West Bank have surged. Forget the fact that international journalists are still prevented from unfettered access in Gaza. None of this, it would seem, should be allowed to get in the way of Eurovision’s cherished spirit of unity.

The Contest Continues Amidst Staggering Tragedy

Eurovision turns 70 next year – roughly two times the current lifespan of a person in Gaza now. The show may go on, but it will likely never recapture the pure, unadulterated fun it once represented. A competition that once promoted togetherness has devolved into a cynical way to whitewash war.