In a show of solidarity with Palestine, thousands of people took to the streets of Malmo, Sweden, to protest against Israel's involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has cast a shadow over the glitzy final of the renowned singing competition.

On Saturday, a large crowd of demonstrators gathered in the central square of the host city before marching towards the contest venue. Waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "Eurovision united by genocide," the protesters expressed their discontent with Israel's participation. Some demonstrators voiced their frustration over the authorities' confiscation of Palestinian flags and scarves.

One protester told Al Jazeera that it was unjust for a country accused of "committing genocide" to be allowed to participate in the event. The individual highlighted the anger and frustration felt by many in Malmo, particularly those with family members affected by the conflict in Gaza and Palestine.

The protests in Malmo over the past few days remained relatively peaceful. However, as the Eurovision final began, the police started removing several protesters who had managed to sneak inside the arena and display Palestinian flags. Police estimates indicate that between 6,000 and 8,000 people joined the demonstrations on Saturday.

Inside the auditorium, French singer Slimane interrupted his rehearsal to express his desire for peace, stating that being united through music was crucial. Slimane referred to the official Eurovision slogan, emphasizing the importance of unity.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have criticized what they perceive as double standards by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization that oversees the contest. They pointed to the decision to ban Russia from Eurovision in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, questioning why Israel was not excluded despite the ongoing conflict.

Despite calls to exclude Israel, Eurovision organizers have maintained that the event is non-political. In March, the EBU confirmed Israel's participation in the contest, with Eden Golan representing the nation. During the semifinals, Golan faced a mixed reception from the audience, with booing, applause, and the waving of Israeli flags.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for Golan, referring to the protests as a "horrible wave of anti-Semitism" and stating that she had already won by enduring them.

Earlier on Saturday, the contest faced another controversy when Dutch contestant Joost Klein was disqualified following an incident involving a member of the production crew. The European Broadcasting Union stated that the investigation was ongoing and that it would not be appropriate for Klein to continue in the contest.

The incident occurred after Klein's performance, when he was filmed against previously established agreements and made a threatening movement towards the camera. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS defended Klein's actions, asserting that the exclusion was disproportionate to the incident.

Klein had already caused a stir during a news conference by repeatedly covering his face with a Dutch flag, seemingly indicating his disagreement with being placed next to Israel's representative, Golan.

As the Eurovision final approaches, the protests in Malmo highlight the deep divisions and controversies surrounding Israel's participation in the competition.