STORY: A protester could be heard shouting "stop the genocide" on the broadcast feed at the start of Israel's semi-final Eurovision Song Contest performance in Austria on Tuesday (May 12).

A voice in the crowd was heard repeatedly shouting the phrase after Israel's act Noam Bettan came on stage, with the chant audible on the live broadcast throughout the introduction and part of the first verse of the song.

Video posted on social media appeared to show a protester being removed from the venue by security.

Israel competed in the first semi-final amid a boycott by five countries over the Gaza war.

The contest, traditionally a good-natured celebration of pop music and high camp now in its 70th year, has become mired in crisis over Israel's military offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.

The public broadcasters of five countries - Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia - are boycotting this year's event, making it the smallest since 2003 with 35 entries. That will also most likely reduce viewership from last year's estimated 166 million, more than the Super Bowl's 128 million.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Protester shouts 'stop the genocide' at Israel Eurovision semi-final performance

VIDEO SHOWS: MOMENT PROTESTER CAN BE HEARD SHOUTING 'STOP THE GENOCIDE' AT START OF ISRAEL'S PERFORMANCE IN SEMI-FINAL OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST / STILLS OF PALESTINE AND ISRAEL FLAG BEING HELD BY AUDIENCE MEMBERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 12, 2026) (EBU/ORF - Broadcast: Part no more than two (2) minutes per live show / Can only be used in regularly-scheduled news bulletins / The same two (2) minutes from each Live Show need to be used in the bulletin and related online publications / For editorial use only when reporting on ESC / No more than ten (10) seconds of each song can be used / No broadcast use after May 14, 2026 at 2359GMT / Must courtesy “COURTESY OF ORF AND EBU” for the whole duration of material used / No use on YouTube / Use of national commentaries can only be used with written consent from rights holder in the country / Music not cleared for use, please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recording / No archive, no resales.

Digital: Part no more than two (2) minutes per live show / Can only be used in a news bulletin only on fully owned website (including digital news platforms which are predominantly for news and current affairs related content) / The same two (2) minutes from each Live Show need to be used online as in the news bulletin / For editorial use only when reporting on ESC / No more than ten (10) seconds of each song can be used / Must courtesy “COURTESY OF ORF AND EBU” for the whole duration of material used / Bulletins must be removed by May 14, 2026 at 2359GMT / No use on YouTube / No commercial use, no monetisation on social platforms / Use of national commentaries can only be used with written consent from rights holder in the country / Music not cleared for use, please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recording / No archive, no resales.)

1. VARIOUS OF START OF ISRAEL'S PERFORMANCE / PROTESTER HEARD SHOUTING OFF CAMERA (English) 'Stop stop the genocide!'

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 12, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

2. STILL OF AUDIENCE MEMBER HOLDING PALESTINIAN FLAG

3. STILL OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS HOLDING ISRAELI FLAG