Protesting Israel’s inclusion, Norway singer won’t announce country’s points at Eurovision

Alessandra Mele, who represented Norway at last year’s Eurovision, says she will no longer award the Scandinavian country’s points during tonight’s final in Malmo, in protest of Israel’s inclusion in the song competition.

“United by music, Eurovision’s motto, is the reason why I do music,” she says in a video. “But right now, those words are just empty words.”

“There’s a genocide going on and I’m asking you to please open your eyes, open up your heart,” the singer goes on to claim, referring to the ongoing war in Gaza started by Hamas’s October 7 terror massacre.

“Let love lead you to the truth, it’s right in front of your eyes. Free Palestine.”

אירוויזיון 2024 | הזמרת אלסנדרה שייצגה את נורווגיה שנה שעברה והייתה אמורה לחשוף את חלוקת הנקודות השנה, מודיעה (ברגע האחרון) שהיא לא תשתתף בגלל ישראל ו"רצח העם בעזה", כלשונה@mayarachlin pic.twitter.com/xh1jZVz7fi

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 11, 2024