Fri Dec 12 18:37:53 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the information provided:

Eurovision Winner Nemo to Return Trophy in Protest of Israel’s Participation

GENEVA – Nemo, Switzerland’s Eurovision 2024 winner, has announced their intention to return the coveted trophy in protest of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate in next year’s competition. The move follows a walkout by five countries – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland – over the same issue.

Nemo, who won with the song “The Code,” posted a video on Instagram showing them packing the trophy for shipment back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva. In the video, Nemo states that Eurovision’s stated values of unity, inclusion, and dignity are contradicted by Israel’s participation amid its ongoing military actions in Gaza.

“Eurovision says it stands for unity, for inclusion and dignity for all people,” Nemo said. “Israel’s participation amid its ongoing genocidal war on Gaza showed those ideals were at odds with organisers’ decisions”.

The EBU has cleared Israel to participate in the 2026 contest, scheduled to be held in Vienna, Austria after Austrian singer JJ won the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland. Traditionally, the winning country hosts the following year.

Contest Director Martin Green expressed disappointment in a statement to The Associated Press, saying, “We are saddened that Nemo wishes to return their trophy which they deservedly won in 2024.” He added, “We respect the deeply held views Nemo has expressed and they will always remain a valued part of the Eurovision Song Contest family.”

Nemo emphasized that the protest is not directed at individual artists but at the EBU’s perceived hypocrisy. “This is not about individuals or artists. It’s about the fact that the contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insists that this contest is non-political,” Nemo stated.

The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Israel’s actions in Gaza, where according to territory’s health authorities, at least 70,369 Palestinians have been killed. The situation continues to draw international scrutiny and spark debate about the role of cultural events in addressing political issues.

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