Israel’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 semi-final on Tuesday faced boos from a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters during his performance, adding to growing tensions surrounding this year’s competition.
Israeli contestant Noam Bettan told Reuters that although some audience members booed as he took the stage to perform his song “Michelle”, he also received strong support from many others in the arena.
“I heard, first of all, in the beginning, a lot of booing, and it’s fine. It’s part of the thing,” the 28-year-old singer said in an interview on Wednesday.
“A few seconds later, I felt a huge wave of unforgettable love and support. It really carried me on stage,” he added.
Viewers watching the live broadcast reportedly heard distant chants of “Stop the genocide” and “Free Palestine” during the performance. However, many inside the venue, including Reuters reporters present at the event, mainly heard cheers and supportive whistles from the crowd.
Bettan’s performance successfully secured Israel a place in Saturday’s grand final despite the controversy surrounding the competition.
The annual Eurovision Song Contest, traditionally known as a celebration of pop music and European diversity, has faced mounting political tensions this year over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Several national broadcasters, including those from Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia, have boycotted the event in protest against Israel’s participation.
Organisers from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Austrian broadcaster ORF confirmed that one audience member near a microphone disrupted the performance and was later removed from the arena.
“Three other people were also removed for disruptive behaviour,” the organisers said in a joint statement.
The broadcasters participating in the boycott said their decision was linked to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack.
According to reports, around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed during the October 7 attack. Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza have reportedly killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, while leaving large parts of the territory devastated.
