RTÉ: Ireland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates

The Irish broadcaster said that Ireland's participation in the contest "would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of The Earth EarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveIreland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates 1 hour agoShareSaveAdam MandevilleBBC News NIShareSaveEPAYuval Raphael flew the flag for Israel at this year's song contest in SwitzerlandThe Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, has said it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest "if the participation of Israel goes ahead".

In a statement, RTÉ said that Ireland's participation in the event "would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".

Ireland has won the contest seven times in total, most recently in 1996.

RTÉ will make a final decision once the Eurovision organisers, the European Broadcasting Union, makes its decision.

Next year's contest will be held in May in Vienna.