Gaza (QNN)- A group of 170 Belgian artists and cultural figures has condemned public broadcaster RTBF for joining the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest while allowing Israel to compete.
Local media reported the protest on Thursday. The artists sent a joint letter after learning on December 4 about Israel’s participation.
La Libre daily said the signatories expressed dismay at the decision. They condemned Israel’s war of extermination.
The group includes well-known cultural figures. Among them are actress and director Yolande Moreau, filmmaker Thierry Michel, humorist Florence Mendez, and actor David Murgia.
The artists compared the decision to past actions by the European Broadcasting Union. They recalled how the EBU excluded Russia within 48 hours of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. In contrast, they said the EBU refused to exclude Israel despite its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The letter criticized RTBF and Flemish broadcaster VRT. Both channels nominate Belgium’s Eurovision entry. The signatories said the broadcasters chose to continue participation despite the situation. They called the move a serious violation of ethical and moral duties expected from public media.
The artists stated that Israel is exploiting cultural events for political goals. They wrote that Israel has long used major artistic platforms to promote propaganda. The aim, they said, is to obscure its policies of occupation, colonisation, and apartheid against Palestinians.
According to the letter, Eurovision participation helps Israel project an image of a modern Western democracy. This image, they argued, helps hide criminal actions in Gaza.
The signatories urged RTBF to reconsider its stance. They called on the broadcaster to cancel its participation in Eurovision 2026 as long as Israel remains welcome in the contest. They said public media must uphold the values of humanity and justice.
