TRT leads Eurovision walkout as four countries quit over Israel

Turkish public broadcaster TRT led a vocal protest against the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) decision to include Israel in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, culminating in a walkout during a key meeting in Geneva. TRT's Director of International Relations, Mustafa Saritas, condemned what he termed Israel's "systematic genocide" in Palestine, stating that allowing Israeli broadcaster KAN to compete is "neither appropriate nor compatible with Eurovision’s values."

Walkout and Escalating Boycott

The protest intensified when TRT and Algeria's delegations walked out of the EBU General Assembly as a KAN representative took the floor. This symbolic act preceded formal announcements from four European broadcasters—the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, and Ireland—that they would withdraw from the contest. Ireland's RTE called participation "unconscionable" due to mass casualties in Gaza, while Spain accused Israel of politicizing the event.

TRT's Moral Condemnation and EBU's Stance

In a detailed statement, Saritas highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis, noting that "more than 270 journalists have been killed by Israel" and that aid cannot safely reach Gaza despite a ceasefire. The EBU had approved new contest rules but blocked a separate vote on Israel's participation, effectively ensuring its inclusion. EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci emphasized transparency, but the statement failed to mitigate the growing backlash.

Divided Europe and Contest's Political Future

While Germany and Austria expressed support for Israel's continued participation, the schism reflects broader European divisions over the Gaza conflict. The coordinated withdrawals represent the most significant boycott of the contest since Russia's exclusion in 2022, challenging the EBU's claim of political neutrality and setting the stage for a fractured 2026 event.