Iceland has announced it will not participate in the upcoming seventieth anniversary edition of the international song contest in Austria, joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in a growing boycott. The decision follows heightened tensions over Israel's continued involvement in the event, amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and concerns about the integrity of the voting process. Despite new measures introduced to protect the vote, several countries have chosen to withdraw after their calls for a vote on Israel's participation were not met. The head of Israel's public broadcaster has criticized the boycott, warning of its potential wider impact on the contest's legacy.