Over 450 queer musicians and organisations have called on UK Eurovision contestant Olly Alexander to boycott the competition due to the inclusion of Israel in this year’s lineup.

Actors Maxine Peake and Brigette Lundy-Paine, post-punk band Goat Girl along with writers Sarah Schulman and Jason Okundaye stand among the signatories of an open letter requesting that the singer withdraw from the May contest in solidarity with Palestine.

 

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The letter was posted on Instagram yesterday by Queers for Palestine, an LGBTQ+ bloc supporting direct action over the conflict in Gaza, its contents stating, “We share the vision of queer joy and abundance you’ve offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all. In this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision…There can be no party with a state committing apartheid and genocide.

“At a time when accountability is so urgently needed, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision would enable and cover up its war crimes and crimes against humanity. Understanding the propaganda value of its participation in the contest to art-wash its ongoing genocide, Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, stated ‘it’s important for Israel to appear in Eurovision.’”

The letter went on to explain that, as the Israel-Palestine conflict approaches its seventh month, more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed and over a million displaced, with Gaza’s 2.3 million citizens subjected to ongoing attacks and the imminent threat of famine.

In response to the letter, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel wrote, “We applaud the thousands of artists, including many queer artists, supporting the boycott of Eurovision 2024 over Israel’s participation.

“This is the moment for Eurovision participants including Olly Alexander to make history, instead of letting it pass them by.”

Palestinians respond to the nine @Eurovision contestants' statement. pic.twitter.com/qFRl84a2GD

— PACBI - BDS movement (@PACBI) March 29, 2024

Last year, before his selection as the UK’s Eurovision contestant, Alexander was one of many to sign a pro-Palestine letter deeming Israel and “apartheid state” and it of genocide in Gaza.

Earlier this month, Eurovision Party London, the city’s biggest Eurovision screening party, released a statement cancelling their 2024 event due to the participation of Israel, while TV presenter Sharon Osbourne and Kiss musician Gene Simmons have openly rejected calls from Swedish and Finnish industry members to ban Israel from participating in the May finale.