Ireland, which has been critical of Israel’s war on Gaza, will withdraw from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is permitted to compete, the national broadcaster RTE has announced.

The broadcaster in a statement on Thursday said participating would be “unconscionable” as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza .

Ireland has taken one of the strongest stances against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and joined South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case accusing Israel of committing genocide.

The ICJ in its interim order in January last year said Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Numerous rights organisations have said Israel’s war in Gaza is genocide.

Israel has closed its Dublin embassy in protest against Ireland’s criticism of its military

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