In a surprising turn of events at the Eurovision Song Contest, a Belgian broadcaster, VRT, momentarily interrupted its coverage of the semi-final to display a protest message condemning Israel's war on Gaza. The act, organized by a trade union, aimed to draw attention to the human rights violations by the state of Israel and its impact on press freedom.

As the semi-final coverage was about to begin, the screen went black, and the message appeared, stating, "This is a union action. We condemn the human rights violations by the state of Israel. Moreover, the state of Israel destroys press freedom. Therefore, we are interrupting the broadcast momentarily." The message was accompanied by hashtags urging for a ceasefire and an end to genocide.

Despite the interruption, Israeli singer Eden Golan managed to qualify for the final in Sweden's city of Malmo, with her performance in the semi-final on Thursday. This qualification sparked mass protests in Sweden, as thousands took to the streets to express their opposition to Israel's participation in Eurovision.

The ACOD-VRT trade union, representing Belgian artists, technicians, and cultural workers, defended the interruption, stating their belief that the state of Israel is committing genocide. They deemed it scandalous that an Israeli entry was included in the Eurovision Song Contest.

A spokesperson for VRT confirmed that the broadcaster had been aware of the planned action by the trade union. Trade unions have the right to take action without prior permission. While the interruption may have caused a momentary disruption, VRT acknowledged the protest's existence.

Protests had already taken place earlier in the day outside the main entrances of both VRT and RTBF, another Belgian public broadcaster, where people criticized the decision to broadcast the song competition. Furthermore, during Golan's rehearsal performance of the song "Hurricane" in Malmo, she faced audible boos from the live audience and shouts of "Free Palestine."

Eurovision 2024 has become a platform for political expressions and tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has previously reprimanded participants for political gestures, including wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and displaying pro-Palestine symbols in performances.

As controversy continues to surround Eurovision, the event serves as a backdrop for political discussions and calls for action in relation to Israel's actions in Gaza. The interruption of the broadcast and the subsequent protests highlight the ongoing debate about how political statements should be addressed within the context of a global music competition.

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