Global News Podcast – Four countries boycott Eurovision over Israel's inclusion

BBC World Service | Host: Celia Hatton | December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the international fallout after four countries—Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—announce a boycott of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation amidst the Gaza war. The episode also covers major global news: a peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC, classified video footage of a controversial US military strike, a landmark UK poisoning inquiry, new science on the Black Death, and a UK hospital’s radical approach to infection control.

Key Discussions & Segments

1. Eurovision Boycott over Israel’s Inclusion

[02:39 – 10:46]

• Background:
  After the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) declined to ban Israel from Eurovision due to its ongoing war in Gaza, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands withdrew from the contest. Notably, Spain is a top event funder, making this the largest political boycott in Eurovision’s history.
• Expert Insight:
  • Dean Vuletic, Eurovision Expert

    "This is certainly one of the most serious crises that the organization has ever faced." (03:29)

  • The dispute is likened to Russia’s exclusion after the Ukraine invasion—boycotting nations argue for consistency.
  • Natalia Gorshak, Slovenian Broadcaster Head

    "If we excluded Russia like one week after they attacked Ukraine, I think the same rules should be applied also to Israel." (04:00)

• Reactions:
  • Israeli winner Dana International called the boycott “violent and insulting.”
  • Ilan Zoller, Israeli Eurovision Journalist

    "I'm very happy because I think Israel should be in Eurovision. It's important... Personally, I think there's no place for politics. Everyone should put politics aside. It’s a competition between broadcasters." (04:25)

  • However, Zoller expresses disappointment at the loss of some of his favorite country participants.
• Public Vote Controversy:
  • Mark Savage (BBC Music Correspondent) explains tightened voting rules are meant to counteract state-backed campaigning, referencing evidence of Israeli government efforts to influence votes.

    "There was a campaign that was funded by the Israeli government to advertise Israel's entry on YouTube, on social media, and there was even a post on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Instagram account advising people how to vote for the act." (06:38)

  • Despite these efforts, organizers maintain Israel’s broadcaster “can” complies with contest rules, contrasting with Russia’s previous sanctioning due to rule breaches, not solely government actions.
• Rift within Eurovision:
  • The Spanish delegation publicly laments the contest's management:

    "[Spain] had lost faith in the management of the Eurovision Song Contest, that today’s meeting should never have been necessary... and they look at examples like Russia being kicked out... asking why that hasn’t happened in this case." (07:44)

  • There is a wider debate about protecting press freedom in Israel, as their broadcaster has sometimes conflicted with the Netanyahu government.
• Result:
  • As the crisis deepens, there is skepticism about healing the rift, especially with the contest turning 70 next year.

2. Gaza Update: Militia Leader Assassinated

[10:46 – 12:22]

• Who was killed:
  • Yasser Abu Shabab, a powerful Bedouin chief and anti-Hamas militia leader in Gaza, was shot dead.
• Circumstances:
  • Previously imprisoned by Hamas for drug offenses, he later led the ‘Popular Forces’ militia, which operated with support from the Tarabin tribe.
  • Israeli sources confirm his death; speculation centers on a possible Hamas infiltration leading to his assassination, casting doubts on Israel's ability to protect anti-Hamas allies in controlled areas.
• Significance:
  • His death is a blow to non-Hamas factions and signals ongoing instability despite US ceasefire plans.

3. Gaza Cultural Heritage Restoration Efforts

[12:22 – 14:39]

• Local Efforts:
  • Palestinian teams begin clearing rubble at the historic Great Omari Mosque and Pasha’s Palace, despite lack of reconstruction materials.
  • Hosni Amazloom, Riwak (Local Heritage Group):

    “The challenges we face are first of all scarcity of resources... we’re using primitive tools and being very careful because the stones here are 12 or 1300 years old.” (12:22)

  • Dr. Hamouda Adaghda (on significance):

    “We are dealing with a building that expresses the identity and memory of the Palestinian people. We are determined to preserve what's left of this important landmark.” (13:16)

• Wider Context:
  • UNESCO has verified damage to 145 religious and cultural sites in the war.
  • No timeline for full restoration; start of work is symbolically important.

4. US Military Strike Controversy: Lawmakers Review Video

[14:39 – 18:46]

• Incident:
  • Classified footage shown to select US lawmakers of a September attack on a suspected drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean; US strikes killed two survivors clinging to wreckage after the initial hit.
• Key Reactions:
  • Rep. Jim Himes (D):

    “What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. You have two individuals in clear distress... who are killed by the United States.” (15:54)

  • Sen. Tom Cotton (R):

    “I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs back over so they could stay in the fight…” (16:30)

• Operational Details:
  • Admiral Frank Bradley, commanding the operation, defended the legal basis of the second strike; Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed but did not order the lethal action.
• Bigger Picture:
  • Over 80 killed in similar incidents so far; President Trump argues these strikes have deterred maritime drug operations.

5. Rwanda–DRC Peace Deal: The Washington Accords

[21:42 – 25:05]

• Deal Details:
  • US-brokered agreement includes ceasefire, disarmament of militants, refugee repatriation, and accountability for atrocities.
  • Economic incentives and access to DRC minerals for US firms added to the agreement.
• Notable Quotes:
  • US President Donald Trump:

    “The compact... formalizes the terms agreed to in June, including a permanent ceasefire... and justice and accountability for those who have committed illegal atrocities. This could mark a turning point.” (21:53)

  • President Paul Kagame (Rwanda):

    “It’s up to us in Africa... to consolidate and expand this peace.” (22:33)

  • President Felix Tshisekedi (DRC):

    “I want to believe that this day marks the beginning of a new path... where peace is no longer just a wish but a goal.” (23:15)

• Caveats & Challenges:
  • The main rebel force, M23, is not directly party to the deal, prompting doubts about implementation.
  • Shingai Nyoka, Africa Correspondent:

    "The main fighting force... is not party to this peace deal. There's a separate parallel process... it's a very kind of haphazard approach to peace." (24:08)

  • Ongoing small-scale skirmishes and mistrust remain.

6. UK Novichok Poisoning Inquiry: Moral Blame on Putin

[25:06 – 29:31]

• Findings:
  • Inquiry finds Russian leader Vladimir Putin “morally responsible” for the death of British citizen Dawn Sturgis, who inadvertently handled nerve agent Novichok targeted at ex-spy Sergei Skripal.
• Details from BBC’s Tom Simons:
  • Novichok was brought to Salisbury in a fake perfume bottle by Russian agents.

  • "A normal 44-year-old English woman [was] caught up in a global espionage plot..." (27:21)

  • Inquiry places blame directly on the Russian chain of command, up to Putin.
• Security Lessons:
  • Despite previous incidents (e.g., Litvinenko poisoning), safeguards were insufficient.

  • "Perhaps there wasn't enough done to make sure that [Skripal] was safe and that this couldn't happen." (29:10)

7. Science: Black Death Linked to Volcanic Eruption

[29:31 – 31:07]

• New Research:
  • Tree ring data suggests volcanic activity caused crop failures in 14th-century Europe, leading Italian states to import grain from plague-affected regions.
  • Dr. Martin Bork (Leibniz Institute):

    "We have the volcano... with a major climate impact, then we have the famine building up and... Italian city states import their grain from [an infected region]... and that's how it spreads very fast." (30:33)

• Broader Significance:
  • Study shows how climate, food trade, and disease combined to escalate the pandemic—a warning for the modern globalised world.

8. UK Hospital Removes Sinks to Fight Superbugs

[31:07 – 36:15]

• Hospital Innovation:
  • A hospital in Slough removes nearly all sinks from its ICU to prevent antibiotic-resistant infections spread via drains.
• Expert Commentary:
  • Dr. Manjula Mehta, Microbiologist:

    “There are estimates which suggest that there are about 200 people dying every hour globally because of these type of infections... a majority are due to what we call gram negative bacteria that are residing in our hospital drains." (32:41) “We have trialed numerous different types of hand disinfectants that are hydrating to the skin. And the staff themselves... have come out and said that this is much better on their skin than hand washing itself.” (35:18)

• Evidence Basis:
  • Alcohol sanitizers assessed as more effective and better tolerated than manual handwashing under current hospital conditions.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Next year, we're going to see the biggest political boycott of Eurovision ever.”
  — Dean Vuletic, Eurovision Expert (03:29)
• “If we excluded Russia... I think the same rules should be applied also to Israel.”
  — Natalia Gorshak, Slovenia (04:01)
• “There's no place for politics. Everyone should put politics aside.”
  — Ilan Zoller, Israeli Eurovision Journalist (04:48)
• “What I saw... was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service.”
  — Rep. Jim Himes, on US military strike footage (15:54)
• “This could mark a turning point for the two African countries...”
  — US President Donald Trump (21:56)
• “A normal 44-year-old English woman is caught up in a global espionage plot. And that is quite an astounding thing to even say out loud...”
  — Tom Simons, BBC (27:21)
• “We have the volcano... and famine... and the only region they import their grain from... happens to be infected already by plague.”
  — Dr. Martin Bork (30:33)
• “There are about 200 people dying every hour globally because of these type of infections.”
  — Dr. Manjula Mehta (32:36)

Concluding Notes

The episode deftly weaves breaking international news with deep dives into ongoing disputes, historic health research, and emerging medical practices. The Eurovision crisis stands out as an emblem of how culture and geopolitics increasingly intertwine, while the wider events highlight persistent global tensions, scientific discovery, and changing approaches to public health.