The Eurovision Song Contest Was Traditionally a Campy Joy – Yet It Has Evolved Into a Cynical Way to Whitewash War.

A freshly coined acronym surfaced a couple of months into Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Known as WCNSF, it signifies “Injured child with no living relatives”. This designation is specific to Gaza, according to doctors such as child health specialists. Ordinarily, it is rare for doctors to treat a minor who has seen the death of their complete family. But, there has been absolutely nothing ordinary about the devastating conflict in Gaza, where whole bloodlines have been obliterated and the number of child amputees exceeds that of any other region in the world. No sense of normalcy in numerous doctors coming back from a devastated terrain with reports of children being deliberately targeted.

A Living Nightmare Despite a Reported Truce

Gaza remains a profound humanitarian disaster. Essential medical supplies are not getting in those in need, and international watchdogs contend that violations are still being committed. Officials has denied these claims, consistent with how it disavows all charges it is implicated in. But while traumatised orphans are now suffering from the cold in makeshift tent camps, there is a piece of uplifting information: apparently nothing is going to stop the international singing competition from advancing its declared purpose of “unity and artistic sharing.” The contest will continue to offer a blood-red carpet for Israel, despite the fact that at least four European countries have now pulled out in protest. Since this, we are told, is what unity looks like.

The contest, notably banned Russia from competing in 2022 due to the “unprecedented crisis in Ukraine”. However, the situation in Gaza is treated differently.

A Double Standard

Overlook the circumstance that Israel was criticized for questionable voting tactics last year in what seems to have been an attempt to inject politics into Eurovision. Set aside the news that a three-year-old girl was reportedly killed in Gaza on a recent Sunday. Pay no mind to the evidence that attacks by settlers and systematic expulsions in the West Bank have surged. Overlook the situation that international journalists are still denied freely reporting in Gaza. All of this, apparently, should be allowed to get in the way of Eurovision’s self-proclaimed spirit of unity.

The Show Goes On Amidst Profound Human Cost

The contest turns 70 next year – almost double the current lifespan of an individual in Gaza now. The event will proceed, but it will likely never recapture the whimsical pleasure it historically embodied. A competition that was originally built on peace has transformed into a transparent instrument to whitewash war.