Amman: The UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, stated on Sunday that Israel has not faced suspensions from major international bodies despite ongoing accusations of rights violations in Gaza. She welcomed a 'European boycott' of Eurovision as a sign of shifting public accountability.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, Albanese expressed her views in a post on US social media company X, criticizing what she perceives as a longstanding global tolerance of Israel's activities. She highlighted that Israel has not been suspended from the UN or other international forums, such as UEFA, FIFA, FIBA, or cultural events, and claimed that the ongoing situation in Gaza has been normalized as a result.

Albanese's comments come as public calls grow in several European countries for artists to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's participation. She noted that the increasing opposition marks a departure from previous years, suggesting a shift towards greater accountability.

Several European nations, including Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland, have announced they will not participate in the contest, citing Israel's actions in Gaza. Meanwhile, Iceland has stated it will conduct further discussions on the matter.