Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia said they were pulling out of the contest after organizers decided to allow Israel to continue to compete, despite tensions over its conduct in Gaza.

The boycotts already announced by four countries over Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest were casting a shadow Friday over the glitzy annual TV extravaganza and its spirit of unity.

Israel can compete in the 2026 Eurovision contest after organizers decided not to hold a vote about whether or not to disqualify the country. “A large majority of Members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned,

Eurovision expert Paul Jordan weighs in on the crisis faced by the Song Contest after four countries walked out of the competition over Israel’s participation, and others indicated they could join the boycott.