Five countries withdraw from Eurovision as a protest against Israel’s participation in the contest, which is set to take place on May 16. Multiple outlets report that the boycott is driven by objections to Israel’s role in the war in Gaza. Al Jazeera and other coverage say protesters and supporters alike are part of the broader backlash around Israel being allowed to compete, with demonstrations reported around the final. The Financial Times and Politico describe the episode as creating a deep split within the competition, with several countries openly declaring their refusal to take part. Politico also reports that Israel qualifies for the Eurovision final, even as the boycott takes effect. The Independent and other summaries note that the controversy extends beyond the contest itself, raising questions about why Israel is permitted to participate and prompting calls for bans from certain governments. Across the reports, the same central point appears: the boycott is coordinated by five countries and is explicitly linked to the Gaza conflict, leading to heightened political tension around an event that is otherwise focused on music.