Eurovision 2024 semi-final results: Israel defy pro-Palestinian crowds and are ... trends now

Israel singer Eden Golan has made it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest following a public vote after thousands of protestors demonstrated in Malmo calling for her to be excluded from the competition.

The 20-year-old singer took to the stage in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest to sing the emotional Hurricane, which was reworked from a previous track called October Rain, believed to reference the Hamas attacks on Israel.

She opened with a back bend, before launching into her song and received claps and cheers from the audience while dressed in a flowing sand-coloured dress.

It comes after Golan was ordered to stay in her hotel room yesterday by her country's national security agency as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters called for her to be excluded from the competition.

The event's organisers have said they will not 'censor' the audience after Golan was booed during rehearsals.

Netherlands act Joost Klein, with the irreverent and silly Europapa, and Norway's Gate with the folkish Ulveham, also made the final. 

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), whose members approved Israeli broadcaster Kan, has taken a strong stance, as in previous years, against political messages at Eurovision and flags and symbols from non-competing countries.

Despite the position, Tuesday's first semi-final saw former Swedish contestant and opening act Eric Saade wear a keffiyeh pattern material, commonly used by people who want to show they are pro-Palestinian, on his arm.

Golan was booed by some of the spectators watching rehearsals on Wednesday and there were reportedly shouts of 'free Palestine'.

'Just like in all major TV productions with an audience, SVT work on the broadcast sound to even out the levels for TV viewers,' a statement from the Eurovision organisers, including Swedish host broadcaster SVT, said.

'This is solely to achieve as balanced a sound mix as possible for the audience; and SVT do not censor sound from the arena audience.

'The same principle applies to all competing performances and opening and interval acts.

'The EBU and SVT encourage all audiences to attend in the spirit of the contest, embracing its values of inclusivity, celebrating diversity and being United By Music.'

Greta Thunberg also joined the thousands of protesters in the southern Swedish city yesterday demonstrating against Israel competing in the famous song contest.

The climate activist, 21, was at the Stop Israel demonstration in the centre of the city on Thursday ahead of the young Israeli-Russian singer's performance at the second semi-final of the competition later this evening.

It was reported earlier that Israel's national security agency Shin Bet had warned Golan not to leave her hotel room except for performances because Malmo was anticipating the wave of pro- Palestinian demonstrations.

The prediction was correct, with as many as 5,000 people taking to the city's streets yesterday, including the young Swede - who was pictured wearing a keffiyeh, a black and white shawl commonly used to show support for Palestine, around her body in the centre of the crowd within a sea of Palestinian flags.

'Young people are leading the way and showing the world how we should react to this,' Thunberg told Reuters news agency. She refused to comment on why she had joined the protest, only saying it was 'good' as the march took place.

During the demonstrations, smoke canisters in the colours of the Palestinian flag were set off and protesters, some of whom have dogs, young children and bicycles with them, were carrying signs displaying images of Gaza civilians who have been injured amid the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Other banners displayed messages including 'welcome to Genocide song contest' and 'stop using Eurovision to whitewash Israeli crimes'. 

At one point, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators were told to go back by police and, following shouts of 'free Palestine', returned to the main gathering.

There was also a banner done in the style of Eurovision with the words 'genocide' on it, an accusation vigorously denied by Israel amid the country's war with Hamas, sparked by the terror group's October 7 attack last year.  

The Hamas attack saw some 1,200 people in Israel killed and around 250 kidnapped by gunmen and taken back into Gaza. Since then, Israeli attacks on the coastal territory have resulted in over 34,000 deaths and a humanitarian catastrophe.

Some 100,000 visitors had already gathered in the southern Swedish city for the annual kitsch-fest, which is taking place amid the protests and boycotts over the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which this weekend moved into the city of Rafa despite protests from Israel's allies - including its most important partner the United States.

Metal barricades and large concrete blocks have been put up around Malmo Arena, which is hosting the competition, the final of which will take place on Saturday.

Police are guarding the venue and visitors need to pass through metal detectors before entering the arena. 

Bags are being checked and visitors are only allowed to

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