Previous Eurovision winners have signed a letter demanding the European Broadcasting Union ban Israel from the song contest.

One of the signatories is Ireland’s own Charlie McGettigan, who won the singing contest in 1994.

Mr McGettigan told Newstalk Breakfast that he would like to see more countries representatives pull out of the competition this year to bring attention to the issue.

“In my opinion, if we were in the Eurovision representing Ireland at this point - Paul Harrington and myself, bring us up to now - I certainly would have pulled out,” he said.

“I would certainly like to see [this year’s acts] threaten to pull out, which might wake up the EBU to how strongly people feel over this.”

Sweden Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, © Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

According to Mr McGettigan, Israel’s participation in the competition distracts from the brutality of their military campaign in Gaza.

“It’s almost legitimising what Israel is doing,” he said.

“We’re quite happy to be involved in a major television programme with a regime that is literally committing genocide.

“Let’s face it, that’s what it is in Gaza.”

Mr McGettigan said he first became alerted to the ongoing conflict when Israel won Eurovision in 2018.

Main image: Charlie McGettigan (L), Israeli flag at Eurovision song contest (R).