For immediate release

The Green Parties across the UK, the Scottish Greens, the Green Party of Northern Ireland, the Green Party of England and Wales, and the Welsh Green Party have today issued a rare joint call on the BBC to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest coverage if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. 

In a letter to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, the four Green Parties warn that Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 2023 has left more than 64,000 Palestinians dead, over 160,000 injured, and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. UN officials have repeatedly said Israel’s actions bear the hallmarks of genocide. British Green Parties have repeatedly called on the British state to act in line with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.  

The leaders also highlighted Gaza as the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded, with more reporters killed there in the last two years than worldwide in the three years before combined. 

Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said:

“Eurovision is supposed to stand for peace, shared humanity and a lot of fun. Those values cannot coexist with complicity in genocide. By standing alongside Israel’s state broadcaster, the BBC would not just be ignoring the mass killing of civilians, it would also be turning its back on journalists being silenced and murdered for telling the truth. That is indefensible.” 

Broadcasters across Europe are already taking action. Ireland’s RTÉ and Slovenia’s RTVSLO have pledged to withdraw if Israel participates, while Spain’s Culture Minister has raised the same, and Iceland is consulting the public. The BBC cannot stay neutral in genocide.” 

Ross Greer, Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, said:

“We’ve been here before. In the fight against apartheid South Africa, cultural boycotts were vital in telling oppressive regimes they would not be normalised. The same principle applies today. Israel must not be allowed to use Eurovision as a platform to launder its reputation while committing atrocities.” 

Malachai O’Hara, Leader of the Green Party of Northern Ireland, said:

“This is a moment for moral clarity. Either the BBC stands on the side of peace, justice and international law – or it lends legitimacy to a state committing mass human rights abuses. The choice could not be starker.” 

Anthony Slaughter, Leader of the Welsh Green Party added:

“The UK cannot look away while children starve, while families are bombed from their homes, while an entire people are brutalised. The BBC has a responsibility to act, and the time to act is now.” 

The joint letter concludes: 

“The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to celebrate peace, unity, and shared humanity. Those values cannot coexist whilst arming a genocide. We therefore call on the BBC, in the strongest possible terms, to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. In the face of genocide, we urge you to act.”

ENDS

FULL TEXT OF LETTER

Dear Mr Davie, 

As leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales, Scottish Greens, and the Green Party of Northern Ireland, we are writing to urge the BBC to take a principled and urgent stand regarding the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. 

Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 64,656 and wounded 163,503 Palestinians in Gaza. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. Families have been, and are being starved, displaced, and traumatised on an unimaginable scale. International experts, including UN officials, have warned repeatedly that Israel’s actions bear the hallmarks of genocide. 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel’s War in Gaza is the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. More press members have been killed there in the past two years than were killed worldwide in the prior three years combined. This matters particularly for the BBC: to stand alongside Israel’s state broadcaster at Eurovision would be to ignore an unprecedented assault on journalism itself, an assault that has sought to silence those documenting the suffering. 

Other broadcasters are already showing leadership. Ireland’s RTÉ and Slovenia’s RTVSLO have announced they will not take part in Eurovision if Israel participates. Spain’s Culture Minister has also raised this as a possibility, and Iceland is consulting on withdrawal. The BBC now faces a choice: will you make a bold and principled stance for peace, justice, and the defence of international law, or will you help legitimise a state that is committing atrocities against a trapped civilian population? 

We have been here before. In the global struggle against apartheid South Africa, cultural and sporting boycotts were vital in sending a clear message: states that systemically oppress, kill, and dispossess cannot be normalised as members of the international community. The same principle must apply today. 

The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to celebrate peace, unity, and shared humanity. Those values cannot coexist whilst arming a genocide. 

We therefore call on the BBC, in the strongest possible terms, to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. 

In the face of genocide, we urge you to act. 

Yours sincerely, 

Ross Greer, Co-Leader, Scottish Greens

Malachai O’Hara, Leader, Green Party Northern Ireland

Zack Polanski, Leader, Green Party of England and Wales 

Anthony Slaughter, Wales Green Party

Green Party Leader Mal O’Hara welcomed today’s announcement from the Equality Commission, calling it “a constructive step forward that offers much-needed legal clarity for employers, service providers, and public authorities.”

Mal said, “We understand that some may feel uneasy about the Commission’s proposed pathway, but it’s important to emphasise that this is not about questioning the existence of trans people. Rather, it is about addressing the legal complexities unique to Northern Ireland. Despite some clumsy language, as the Chief Commissioner has made clear: ‘Discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment is unlawful.’”

“The Supreme Court judgment failed to resolve the uncertainty surrounding Northern Ireland’s distinct legislative position, including our exclusion from the Equality Act, the implications of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, and our statutory duties under Section 75. The Equality Commission has now taken the initiative where the courts have not.”

Mal concluded, “Whatever unfolds in the months ahead, the Green Party will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with trans and non-binary people, just as we always have. We also hope that today’s announcement will deter those within the main unionist parties who use culture war rhetoric to distract from their failures on health, housing, and public services.”

ENDS

Press Enquiries - Mal O’Hara +44 7540 790663

Mal O'Hara said "I was flabbergasted yesterday to hear the SDLP call for the unpicking of the Climate Act for Northern Ireland. To suggest this course of action in favour of an outdated road project is shocking. The Climate Act 2022 was hard fought for and it was long overdue, with Green MLAs instrumental in making it happen."

Mal continued "It really should come as no shock. The SDLP voted to split the climate targets, giving agriculture a lower target and therefore putting more pressure on other sectors. This is the party that allowed sand dredging in Lough Neagh when the Lough was in freefall. It is the party that supported the Going for Growth strategy which incentivised industrialised farming leading to none of our waterways meeting a good standard, a reduction in soil quality and increased air pollution. It is the party that failed to bring forward the Belfast Cycling Network or to advance pedestrianisation in Belfast during the pandemic."

Mal finished "With 8 out of 10 people in Northern Ireland believing that climate change poses a serious threat to the future of human civilisation, we must ask more sensible heads in the SDLP to stop this ridiculous proposal. Proposing the Climate Act is ripped up to facilitate a road project only serves to embolden the climate deniers in the DUP and TUV. The solution is to instead invest in road safety on the A5 and use the rest of the £1.7 billion to fund the All-Island Rail Review and it's recommendation for a new rail line from Portadown to Derry via Omagh and Strabane."

ENDS

Press Enquiries - Mal O’Hara +44 7540 790663

Green Party Leader Mal O'Hara said "Late, limited ambition and refusal to take on big Agri-food obscures the positives in this plan. The Climate Action Plan should have been laid before the Assembly in 2023. That the Executive are consulting now on their plan for the years 2023-2027 shows how deprioritised Climate Action is to them. Agriculture (30.8%) and Transport (21.5%) account for over half of our emissions but the radical action required in those sectors appears to be sorely lacking." 

Mal continued "The Minister has chosen to ignore the Independent Climate Change Committee (ICCC) which suggested radical action in agriculture and herd reduction. We have seen the damage that industrialised farming is doing to our water, air and soil quality. Lough Neagh is the case in point with over 60% of phosphorus pollution into the lough coming from agriculture. We need to return to small and local farms that feed us, restore nature and are the lifeblood of rural communities. Not mass slaughter houses for the export market so that Big Agri-food make a tidy profit. The ambition on Transport is similarly stunted. More vague commitments on getting people to use their cars less but we can’t do that unless we properly fund public transport and give people other options. There is no mention of rail in the plan when the Executive should be prioritising the recommendations of the All-Island Rail Review.”

Mr O’Hara finished by saying “Reducing emissions can have so many benefits if done right. Thousands of green jobs and skilled apprenticeships to give the next generation hope. Cheaper energy bills for all in well insulated buildings. Vibrant rural communities that restore nature, reverse species loss and attract tourism. Well paid transport jobs on cheap, reliable and efficient public transport. That could be the vision if the Minister and Executive were brave enough.”

ENDS

Press Enquiries - Mal O’Hara +44 7540 790663