🔗 Share this article The Eurovision Song Contest Was Traditionally a Campy Joy – But It Has Evolved Into a Cynical Way to Sanitize Conflict. A new acronym surfaced several months after the start of the military campaign against Gaza. Referred to as WCNSF, it means “Child casualty without any family left”. This designation is found only in Gaza, according to doctors including paediatricians. Ordinarily, it is uncommon for doctors to attend to a young patient who has seen the death of their entire family. But, there has been no semblance of normality regarding the widespread destruction in Gaza, where entire family lineages have been eradicated and the number of children who have lost limbs surpasses that of any other place in the world. Nothing ordinary about scores of doctors returning from a sea of ruins with accounts of children being systematically aimed at. A Hell on Earth Regardless of a Announced Cessation of Hostilities The Gaza Strip continues to be a profound humanitarian disaster. Critical healthcare resources are failing to reach those in need, and international watchdogs assert that atrocities are ongoing. The Israeli government disputes these allegations, just as it denies all charges it is accused of. Meanwhile, while traumatised orphans are now enduring frigid conditions in makeshift tent camps, there is a piece of uplifting information: apparently nothing is going to stop the Eurovision from continuing with its professed goal of “unity and artistic sharing.” Eurovision will continue to offer a prestigious stage for Israel, although several European countries have now pulled out in protest. And this, apparently, is what unity resembles. The contest, notably excluded Russia from taking part in 2022 over the “grave situation in Ukraine”. Yet the conflict in Gaza is completely different. A Double Standard Forget the fact that Israel was alleged to have used unfair vote practices last year in what could be seen as an attempt to politicise Eurovision. Forget the fact that a three-year-old girl was reportedly killed in Gaza recently. Forget the fact that attacks by settlers and coerced removal in the West Bank have increased dramatically. Forget the fact that international journalists are still blocked from freely reporting in Gaza. All of this, apparently, should be permitted to obstruct of Eurovision’s cherished spirit of unity. The Contest Continues While Ignoring Staggering Tragedy Eurovision marks seven decades next year – roughly two times the current lifespan of a person in Gaza at present. The broadcast will air, but it will likely never recapture the pure, unadulterated fun it historically embodied. An institution that initially championed peace has devolved into a transparent instrument to whitewash war.
A new acronym surfaced several months after the start of the military campaign against Gaza. Referred to as WCNSF, it means “Child casualty without any family left”. This designation is found only in Gaza, according to doctors including paediatricians. Ordinarily, it is uncommon for doctors to attend to a young patient who has seen the death of their entire family. But, there has been no semblance of normality regarding the widespread destruction in Gaza, where entire family lineages have been eradicated and the number of children who have lost limbs surpasses that of any other place in the world. Nothing ordinary about scores of doctors returning from a sea of ruins with accounts of children being systematically aimed at. A Hell on Earth Regardless of a Announced Cessation of Hostilities The Gaza Strip continues to be a profound humanitarian disaster. Critical healthcare resources are failing to reach those in need, and international watchdogs assert that atrocities are ongoing. The Israeli government disputes these allegations, just as it denies all charges it is accused of. Meanwhile, while traumatised orphans are now enduring frigid conditions in makeshift tent camps, there is a piece of uplifting information: apparently nothing is going to stop the Eurovision from continuing with its professed goal of “unity and artistic sharing.” Eurovision will continue to offer a prestigious stage for Israel, although several European countries have now pulled out in protest. And this, apparently, is what unity resembles. The contest, notably excluded Russia from taking part in 2022 over the “grave situation in Ukraine”. Yet the conflict in Gaza is completely different. A Double Standard Forget the fact that Israel was alleged to have used unfair vote practices last year in what could be seen as an attempt to politicise Eurovision. Forget the fact that a three-year-old girl was reportedly killed in Gaza recently. Forget the fact that attacks by settlers and coerced removal in the West Bank have increased dramatically. Forget the fact that international journalists are still blocked from freely reporting in Gaza. All of this, apparently, should be permitted to obstruct of Eurovision’s cherished spirit of unity. The Contest Continues While Ignoring Staggering Tragedy Eurovision marks seven decades next year – roughly two times the current lifespan of a person in Gaza at present. The broadcast will air, but it will likely never recapture the pure, unadulterated fun it historically embodied. An institution that initially championed peace has devolved into a transparent instrument to whitewash war.