In response to calls for Israel's exclusion from this year's Eurovision song contest, a letter signed by more than 400 creatives from the entertainment industry has been released, showing support for Israel's participation. Among the signatories are renowned actors Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons, and Boy George.

The letter was organized by Creative Community For Peace (CCFP), a non-profit organization that aims to educate about antisemitism and campaign against cultural boycotts of Israel. The signatories expressed their stance against the decision to ban Israel from the contest, joining forces with numerous other influential individuals such as actor Liev Schreiber, music producer Scooter Braun, and Sharon Osbourne.

The controversy surrounding Israel's involvement in Eurovision stems from open letters signed by over 2,000 musicians from Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, advocating for Israel's exclusion. These letters have highlighted the polarized conversation concerning cultural responses to the Israel-Hamas war, which began after Hamas orchestrated deadly attacks on Israel in October last year, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and more than 200 hostages taken back to Gaza.

Responding to the growing movement, the CCFP emphasized the importance of not vilifying Israel on the global music stage, referencing the tragic music festival attack orchestrated by Hamas. They called the decision to boycott Israel "shameful" and urged Eurovision to stand firm against the discriminatory attempt. The open letter also acknowledged Israel's successful track record in the contest, having previously won in 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2018.

Sweden is set to host this year's Eurovision song contest in Malmö in May. The Finnish letter, released last month, demanded that the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) boycott the contest if Israel is included, citing the alleged war crimes and military occupation committed by Israel. The controversy surrounding Israel's participation has also seeped into the Italian song contest, Sanremo, where a Tunisian-Italian contestant called for an end to genocide during the show's finale. This resulted in clashes between pro-Palestinian protestors and Italian police outside RAI's headquarters.

Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), responsible for organizing the Eurovision song contest, reiterated that the event remains apolitical. According to the EBU, Israel meets all the necessary criteria for participating in the contest.

As the debate over Israel's inclusion rages on, it is evident that Eurovision has become a platform for discussions on politics and human rights, showcasing the complexities of the global music industry.