Dublin radio station to host 'Dabke' rival Gaza fundraiser on Eurovision night

A Dublin-based national radio station will host a fundraiser for Palestine on the same night of the Eurovision Song Contest, over global calls for a boycott of the competition due to Israel's participation.

Dublin Digital Radio (ddr) has announced it will host a fundraising event titled 'Dabke' at the same time the Eurovision finale is aired on 11 May.

The event will serve as an alternative to Eurovision for music lovers with a mix of music by Palestinian and Arab artists as well as poetry and spoken word performances by Palestinian-Jordanian beatboxer Abood Aladham, Dublin poet Myrna al Tarjuri, and Queer Palestinian Thespian Amir Abualarob.

"With 'Dabke', Dublin Digital Radio aims to harness the power of music and art to raise awareness and support for Palestinians in Gaza while offering a platform for solidarity and activism within the local community," the radio said in a statement shared on its Instagram account.

Dublin Digital Radio to host Palestinian fundraising event on night of the Eurovision featuring DJ karmawi, Abood Aladham and more at Mono's bar @bfcdublin https://t.co/3UviCjdN9u

— Hot Press (@hotpress) April 30, 2024

Funds raised will go to support Palestinians in Gaza, particularly those seeking to evacuate the besieged enclave amid Israel's relentless offensive which has killed over 34,500 people - 70 percent of whom were women and children.

It comes amid numerous calls for boycotting the Eurovision this year, including by the LGBTQ+ community such as QPEN in the US, Queers in Palestine in Palestine, Pride in Protest in Australia, and Dyke March Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

"Israeli soldiers wave rainbow flags atop the ruins of Palestinian homes destroyed by the Israeli military in Gaza - a cynical attempt to rebrand Israel’s genocide as an act of queer liberation," the boycott organisers said in a press release statement.

Eurovision organiser European Broadcasting Union (EBU) so far resisting calls from artists and activists to expel Israel from Europe's 7 to 11 May annual song competition.

Eurovision, to take place this year in the Swedish city of Malmo, bills itself as a non-political event, however, it excluded Russia from the competition in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine.