Greta Thunberg and other protesters were detained in protest near the Eurovision arena

Several people were arrested this Saturday outside the Malmö arena, home of the final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, in Sweden, during protests against Israel’s participation in the competition that attracted thousands of people.

According to EuropaPress, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is among the detained protesters.

Protests have been taking place since Saturday afternoon outside the building where the final of the Lisbon festival, in which 25 countries, including Israel, are competing, began at 8 p.m.

Protesters gathered at the entrance to the Malmö Arena, restricting entry to the public, to whom they addressed words such as “What a shame!”

This Saturday’s protest, which began in Stortorget Square, was organized by the Stop Israel, for Peace and Free Palestine platform, which brings together more than 60 organizations.

On Thursday, thousands of people marched through the streets of Malmo demanding Israel’s exclusion from the competition, in a demonstration called by Parem Israel.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest is marked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has lasted for decades but intensified following the October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, which killed nearly 1,200 people. Led by Benjamin, Netanyahu responded with an offensive that killed more than 34,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to reports from both sides.

Since it became known that Israel, represented by Eden Golan, will be participating in the competition, political representatives and European artists have made several requests to the EBU to veto the country’s participation in the competition.

Israel, which is one of 25 countries competing in the Eurovision final this Saturday, was the first non-European country to take part in the music competition in 1973, and has won four times, including with transgender singer Dana International. in 1998.