A recent initialism emerged a couple of months following the onset of the intensive bombing of Gaza by Israel. Known as WCNSF, it signifies “Child casualty without any family left”. This term is unique to Gaza, per insights from medical experts such as child health specialists. Ordinarily, it is rare for doctors to treat a young patient who has lost their complete family. However, there has been nothing “normal” concerning the genocide in Gaza, where entire family lineages have been eradicated and the number of children who have lost limbs exceeds that of anywhere else in the world. Nothing normal in scores of doctors coming back from a landscape of rubble with accounts of children being intentionally shot at.
Conditions in Gaza persist as hell on earth. Vital medicines and equipment are failing to reach those in need, and groups like Amnesty International have stated that atrocities are ongoing. Officials rejects these accusations, consistent with how it denies all charges it is accused of. Meanwhile, while traumatised orphans are now enduring frigid conditions in makeshift tent camps, there is some ostensibly positive news: apparently nothing is going to stop the Eurovision song contest from pursuing its professed goal of “togetherness and artistic sharing.” The contest will continue to offer a prestigious stage for Israel, even though at least four European countries have now boycotted in dissent. Because this, apparently, is what international harmony looks like.
Eurovision, of course excluded Russia from taking part in 2022 over the “grave situation in Ukraine”. However, the situation in Gaza seems entirely distinct.
Overlook the circumstance that Israel was alleged to have used questionable voting tactics last year in what seems to have been an attempt to inject politics into Eurovision. Ignore the report that a toddler was reportedly killed in Gaza just days ago. Forget the fact that attacks by settlers and forced displacement in the West Bank have increased dramatically. Overlook the situation that foreign reporters are still denied unfettered access in Gaza. This entire context, evidently, should be permitted to obstruct of Eurovision’s much-touted ethos of unity.
Eurovision marks seven decades next year – roughly two times the current lifespan of an individual in Gaza today. The show may go on, but it will never be able to restore the pure, unadulterated fun it was formerly known for. A competition that was originally built on peace has now become a cynical way to provide a cultural veneer for conflict.
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