High voltage and party go hand in hand on Thursday in the Swedish city of Malmö. Some distance from the arena where the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the evening, thousands of people are holding a pro-Palestinian demonstration. They do not accept that Israel was admitted to the song competition.
Thursday May 9, 2024 at 4:21 PM
“From the river to the sea”, “Boycott Israel”, “Intifada revolution”: thousands of people have been arriving since Thursday afternoon for a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Malmö and show their solidarity with the people in the Gaza Strip with the above chants. They met about four kilometers from the arena where the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, with Israel, will take place on Thursday evening and will then walk towards that hall.
What is striking is the wide variety of people present. Banners indicate that Latinos for Palestine are present, as well as health workers and psychologists who show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is also present in the crowd. Smoke bombs are also lit in Palestinian colors. Everything is going smoothly, our reporter on the spot notes. The police are clearly present, but have no reason to intervene for the time being.
Israel’s participation in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday evening has gone down the wrong way with many people. The escalation in the Gaza Strip since October last year has caused Prime Minister Netanyahu’s country to receive a lot of international criticism, but the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest emphasizes that it is a non-political event. There had also been boos during the rehearsal of Israeli candidate Eden Golan.
© AP
© REUTERS