While Eurovision usually avoids politics, Russia was expelled from the contest following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and critics have argued that Israel should also be banned over its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has left over 70,000 people dead, per the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel has defended its campaign as a response to the deadly attack by militants on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 people dead.

https://www.newsweek.com/eurovision-2026-countries-boycotting-israel-ireland-spain-withdraw-11158483