Austrian singer JJ, who won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, sparked controversy by calling for Israel’s exclusion from the 2026 contest scheduled to take place in Vienna, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Eurovision Song Contest, which emphasizes political neutrality, has faced criticism linked to the war. Since Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people, Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Pro-Palestinian groups had previously urged the European Broadcasting Union to bar Israel from participating in the 2025 contest, yet Israel’s representative, Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 attack, secured second place. JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, expressed disappointment at Israel’s continued involvement in Eurovision. He told a Spanish newspaper that he would like the next Eurovision in Vienna to take place without Israel’s participation.
Following the interview, JJ’s management company issued a statement quoting him to clarify his stance. He apologized if his comments were misunderstood and stressed that while he is critical of the Israeli government, he condemns violence against civilians everywhere, whether Israeli or Palestinian. He also said he would not comment further on the issue.
JJ’s remarks drew criticism from Oskar Deutsch, president of the Jewish Religious Community (IKG), which represents Austria’s Jewish population. Deutsch condemned the comments, accusing JJ of joining a chorus of “Israel-haters” and turning Israeli victims into aggressors. He described the remarks as both disappointing and dangerous.
JJ’s statements coincided with a call from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who urged the exclusion of Israel from cultural events such as Eurovision due to the Gaza conflict. With his operatic song “Wasted Love,” JJ became the third Austrian winner of Eurovision, which is the world’s largest music competition, watched by over 160 million viewers.
Raphael, Israel’s 2024 entrant, had been at the Nova music festival near the Gaza border during the Hamas attack. Besides his comments on Israel’s participation, JJ also suggested reforms to improve transparency in Eurovision’s vote-counting system.
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