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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Miranda Bryant in Stockholm

Israeli Eurovision song under ‘scrutiny’ for alleged Hamas attack reference

Protestors at a Together for Palestine rally in Stockholm, holding aloft placards referencing Eurovision
Protesters have called for Israel to banned from the Eurovision song contest altogether. Photograph: Frederik Persson/EPA

The organisers of the Eurovision song contest have said they are “scrutinising” the lyrics of Israel’s entry after it was claimed it makes reference to the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

The lyrics from Israel’s entry, October Rain, sung by Eden Golan, were leaked to the media. According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, lines in the song include, “There’s no air left to breathe”, and “They were all good children, each one of them”. The song also refers to “flowers”, which the newspaper reported is a military code for war fatalities.

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