Competitors at the Eurovision Song Contest have called for "love" and "peace" on stage as they finished performing during the contest on Saturday night.
Protesters, who are calling for a boycott of the competition due to the participation of Israel’s Eden Golan, were on both sides of entrants queuing to go into the Malmö Arena in Sweden ahead of the Grand Final.
Several protesters have also been detained and taken away by police including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
They called out "free Palestine" and "shame" to those attending ahead of Golan and Ireland’s Bambie Thug performing alongside 23 other countries.
Golan received boos and cheers from the crowd during the Grand Final.
Taking to the stage were Sweden’s contestants Marcus & Martinus, who opened the contest with Unforgettable before Ukraine’s Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil sang their religious-themed Teresa & Maria prior to Germany’s Isaak delivering an emotional performance of Always On The Run.
Several contestants appeared to reference conflicts throughout the world, with Lithuania’s Silvester Belt telling the audience to "spread love to the world", while Bambie Thug declared "love will always triumph hate".
At the end of Portugal’s Iolanda singing Grito, she told the crowd: "Peace will prevail."
Slimane, who performed his song Mon Amour, issued another message saying that people should be "united by music for love and peace".
This year’s contest has faced multiple calls to boycott the competition over Israel’s participation and the week has seen protests in the centre of Malmo, the host city.
During the dress rehearsals, Palestinian flags, which had been banned by the EBU, had been seen in the audience.
Also during the show, Slimane stopped singing his entry Mon Amour to call for peace amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Alessandra Mele withdrew from being Norway’s points spokesperson and said in an Instagram video that Eurovision’s motto, united by music, were "empty words".
The broadcasting company NRK has said TV presenter Ingvild Helljesen will announce the jury votes from Norway instead.
Kaarija, the jury spokesperson for Finland, and last year’s runner-up, also announced online that he had stepped down from his role as it "does not feel right".
Ahead of the grand final, Bambie accused the Israeli broadcaster of a rule break and said they are waiting on an official update from the EBU after raising "multiple complaints".
It comes after the singer missed their dress rehearsal as they felt they needed to bring a situation to the "urgent attention" of the EBU.
In a post to X Irish singer Cmat said they would not be watching the final and encouraged others to follow suit.
Live online videos show a police presence in Malmö as protestors with Palestinian flags take to the city streets.
Croatia’s Baby Lasagna, real name Marko Purisic, has been tipped as a favourite to win the content, with the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim.
The EBU has been approached for comment.
Source: Press Association
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