Picture credits: © Corinne Cumming / EBU Another controversy arose on the night of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024. The Belgian broadcaster VRT momentarily interrupted the broadcast to display a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This year, Belgium’s participation was under the responsibility of RTBF, which alternates annually with VRT – which, for that reason, will be the participating broadcaster next year.
However, tonight, unions decided to broadcast a message calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at the beginning of the live broadcast. The message read: “This is a trade union action. We condemn human rights violations by the State of Israel. Furthermore, the State of Israel is destroying freedom of the press. That is why we are interrupting the broadcast for a moment. #CeaseFireNow #StopGenocideNow”.
On Thursday afternoon, around 70 people from pro-Palestinian movements protested at the main entrance of RTBF and VRT, criticizing the Belgian public broadcasters for airing the ESC with Israel’s participation. The two channels rejected calls to cancel the broadcast.
Mustii, Belgium’s representative, was eliminated, but he did not fail to use his spotlight on stage to call for peace by writing the word «Peace» on his left arm, prominently visible.
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