Turkey reiterated its call for decisive international action against Israeli’s regional conduct, with National Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk criticizing the Israeli regime’s continued aggression in the West Bank and Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and policies destabilizing Syria and Lebanon.
“We once again state that the international community, first and foremost the UN, must demonstrate a determined and enforceable will and take steps against Israel’s actions that threaten regional peace and stability,” he said.
Akturk stressed the urgency of allowing uninterrupted humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensuring the complete implementation of ceasefire terms, arguing that such measures were essential for broader regional stability.
He urged the United Nations and the broader international community to adopt enforceable measures addressing actions he said threaten regional stability. He emphasized the importance of safe, uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza, rapid delivery of civilian necessities, and full implementation of ceasefire terms, citing these as fundamental to regional peace. He added that Turkey would continue supporting constructive diplomatic efforts.
He added that Turkey would continue supporting all constructive international initiatives aimed at easing the humanitarian crisis.
Separately, pressure on Israel’s international standing mounted within Europe’s broadcasting sector after the EBU confirmed the Zionist entity’s participation in Eurovision 2026.
Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT sharply criticized the EBU for refusing to hold a separate vote on Israel’s inclusion, effectively guaranteeing its place in next year’s competition in Vienna.
Mustafa Saritas, TRT’s Director of International Relations, said Israel had been carrying out “a systematic genocide” against civilians in Palestine and that allowing Israel’s broadcaster KAN to participate was “neither appropriate nor compatible with Eurovision’s values.”
“Like everyone in this hall, we at TRT have witnessed a decades-long persecution and a genocide unfolding before the world’s eyes,” Saritas said.
He noted that “more than 270 journalists have been killed by Israel” and argued that the EBU’s decision clashed with the contest’s stated principles.
The backlash quickly spread.
The Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Ireland withdrew from Eurovision 2026, citing Israel’s role in Gaza genocide and arguing that participation would contradict their public values.
Ireland’s public broadcaster RTE called involvement “unconscionable,” while Slovenia’s RTV opted out entirely.
Spain said Israel was using the event for political purposes and walked out of the EBU meeting alongside Turkey and Algeria when the Israeli delegation spoke.
In a related development, Iceland signaled it may follow suit.
Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir said Iceland would hold internal discussions on whether participation remained tenable given “strong concern about developments in Gaza” and the need for more humanitarian assistance.
Iceland’s public broadcaster RUV said its board would meet to determine the country’s position.
The political reverberations extended into Belgium, where PTB and Ecolo lawmakers pressed national broadcasters RTBF and VRT to withdraw.
PTB lawmaker Nabil Boukili said the EBU’s decision “proves limitless hypocrisy,” adding that “even after two years of genocide in Gaza” Israel continued to be treated as a normal participant.
Ecolo lawmaker Benedicte Linard said international law had been ignored and called for Belgium to join other states exiting the contest.
RTBF said it would announce its decision soon, while VRT confirmed it would broadcast the event.
Spain’s government openly endorsed RTVE’s withdrawal.
Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz praised the broadcaster for “prioritizing human rights,” while Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said the decision reflected a principled rejection of cultural normalization amid mass civilian casualties in Gaza.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 70,000 people and injured nearly 171,000, according to local authorities and UN-appointed experts who say the operations amount to genocide.
With diplomatic pressure and cultural boycotts accelerating simultaneously, broadcasters and governments across Europe signaled that the EBU will face sustained scrutiny over its stance toward Israel.