Public broadcasters in a handful of European countries have confirmed they will not televise this week's Eurovision Song Contest, following through on their boycott of the competition over Israel's continued participation.
The three nations, alongside the Netherlands and Iceland, withdrew from the 70th anniversary event in Vienna last year after the European Broadcasting Union declined to exclude Israel from competing.
Irish broadcaster RTE has faced pressure to boycott this year's contest
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The countries confirmed not to broadcast the contest for their population are Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia.
Ireland's RTÉ stated that participation "remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk".
Slovenia's RTV has also refused to broadcast the contest
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Slovenia's RTV board chair, Natalija Gorščak, said that the decision was "not any message against Jewish people" but rather "a message against [Benjamin] Netanyahu's state, and the politics of what Netanyahu is doing".
Rather than broadcasting what Ms Gorščak termed "the Eurovision circus", Slovenia's national television will instead present a week-long programme series titled "Voices of Palestine", featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.
"We are showing the Israeli activists who fight for the rights of the Palestinians," Ms Gorščak told Politico.
Irish viewers tuning in on Saturday evening will find a 1996 episode of Father Ted in place of the Grand Final - the classic sitcom instalment follows two priests attempting to write a song for a Eurovision-style competition.
Several Eurovision countries have boycotted the competition
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Earlier on Thursday, RTÉ will air a travel programme featuring 1993 Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh in Norway.
The decision irked Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, who distanced himself from the Irish broadcaster's decision.
Mr Linehan said he was "disgusted" by the network's decision, and emphasised he didn't want to be associated with its "disgusting antisemitism".
Meanwhile, Spain's RTVE has opted to screen its own musical programme, The House of Music, as an alternative to the final.
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Graham Linehan has slammed RTE's decision
| PADespite withdrawing from the competition, broadcasters in the Netherlands and Iceland have chosen to screen the contest for their audiences.
The five-nation boycott has resulted in just 35 countries taking part this year - the smallest field since the competition expanded its entry format in 2004.
Eurovision director Martin Green expressed hope that the absent nations would return, stating: "We've got five members of our family missing this year. We miss them and we love them and we hope they come back."
He added that organisers would "do anything in our power to find a pathway back" for the boycotting broadcasters, whilst acknowledging the decision ultimately rests with them.
Israel's Noam Bettan was booed by sections of the audience during the first semi-final
| GETTYThree countries - Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania - are returning to the contest this year, partially offsetting the withdrawals.
Israeli broadcaster KAN has defended its right to compete, with CEO Golan Yochpaz warning EBU members that "a boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm".
President Isaac Herzog welcomed his country's continued participation, posting on social media: "Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed."
However, Amnesty International condemned the EBU's approach as "an act of cowardice and an illustration of blatant double standards", noting that Russia was suspended following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The UK is represented by Look Mum No Computer this year
| GETTYSecretary General Agnès Callamard argued that Israel's participation "offers the country a platform to try to deflect attention from and normalise its ongoing genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip".