Israel

The world's biggest live music event involving 37 nations, the Eurovision Song Contest, culminates in Sweden on Saturday.

Roughly 100,000 visitors from 89 countries have descended on host city Malmo during the week for the 68th edition of the competition, which has been marked by anti-Israel protests.

Who is in the final?

Türkiye on Friday expressed its approval of the U.N. resolution granting the Palestinians additional rights in the global body and backed their drive for full membership, which is blocked by the United States.

"We welcome the U.N. General Assembly resolution to expand Palestine's rights and privileges at the U.N.," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Eurovision Song Contest final gets underway in Sweden's Malmo on Saturday with thousands of protesters expected to culminate a week of tensions surrounding Israel's participation during the Gaza war.

More than 100 Turkish hoteliers and tourism agencies flocked to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai this week as Türkiye seeks to attract more holidaymakers from the Middle Eastern countries.

The United States has issued a stunning criticism of Israel's use of American weapons in the Gaza war, after Israeli forces intensified operations around the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced people are sheltering.

Turkish pop singer Sertab Erener, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with her song "Everyway That I Can," took the Eurovision stage once again after a 21-year hiatus in the second semi-final of the event on May 9.

Greek sources have refuted claims that the country's Eurovision representative intended to offend Israel during a press conference in Malmo, Sweden.

While Israel's delegation spoke, Greece's representative, Marina Satti, appeared fatigued, gesturing with squints, sighs, and resting her head on her hands, occasionally smiling at the camera.

Spain, Ireland, and other EU nations are intending to acknowledge Palestine's statehood on May 21, as stated by Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat for foreign and security policy, reported by Reuters. This announcement comes ahead of the anticipated UN vote on the Palestinian bid for full membership in the global body.

As later reported by the show’s journalist, the Israeli representative arrived at the stage accompanied by 100 police officers due to protests against Israel taking place outside the venue

Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in Rafah on Thursday, as reported by Palestinian residents, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed US President Joe Biden's warning of withholding weapons from Israel if it attacks the southern Gaza city.