Anti-Eurovision concert carries a ‘Gaza Message’

Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip today launched the “Gaza Message” calling for the Eurovision Song Contest, which is being held in Israel on Saturday, to be boycotted.

To launch the message, the Jusoor International Communications Group held a concert on the ruins of the home of the Abu Amar family, which was bombed by Israeli warplanes during the latest round of attacks on 4-6 May.

Kamel Musallam, Jusoor coordinator, said the message from Gaza was clear: “To the US, to the West more generally, don’t be part of the occupation.”

“Eurovision is being held in Tel Aviv which was established on the ruins of a Palestinian village which was emptied of its inhabitants by Israeli forces in 1948 using the most hideous crimes of ethnic cleansing.”

“Now it is hosting this concert as if it is singing about democracy and freedom and these are all falsehoods,” Musallam added.

Among those taking part in the Gaza concert today was the mother of slain paramedic Razan Al-Najjar, who was shot by an Israeli sniper as she tried to tend to the wounded during the Great March of Return protests.

Palestinians perform on the ruins of a home which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in Gaza on 14 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians perform on the ruins of a home which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in Gaza on 14 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians perform on the ruins of a home which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in Gaza on 14 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians perform on the ruins of a home which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in Gaza on 14 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Palestinians perform on the ruins of a home which was bombed by Israeli warplanes in Gaza on 14 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

READ: Israel violates truce, levels land in north Gaza