Irish Eurovision hopeful Erica Cody has said that she believes Israel should be excluded from this year's Eurovision Song Contest, due to its part in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s Late Late Show Eurosong special, Cody described what’s going on in the Middle East as "devastating" and "disturbing and distressing to watch".
Cody, who said she has always been vocal on her views about the conflict added: "I think we need to see the same energy that was given to Russia when they invaded Ukraine.
Referring to Russia's exclusion from the contest in both 2022 and 2023 she said: "It should be the exact same."
When asked if she believed that Israel should be removed from his year’s contest, she responded: "If I’m going to be 100% honest, yeah", adding that Eurovision is "meant to be a celebration of life and music and acceptance and love".
Cody is vying to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, with her song Love Me Like I Do. If her track wins tonight's Eurosong competition Cody said she would "cross that bridge when we get to it" about participating in the contest in Malmö if Israel was still part of the competition.
She added: "I think anybody who knows me and knows me morally over the last couple of years, being an activist, should know that I would never step into something like this with an ignorant head on my shoulders.
"We’ll just have to see how Friday goes and then we can go from there."
In a statement, a spokesperson for RTÉ said: "RTÉ has always approached the event in the spirit in which it was founded - which is a non-political contest designed to unite audiences and bring people together through a shared love of music and entertainment.
"36 nations including Ireland will take part in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ is not aware of any participating Public Service Broadcaster who is planning to boycott the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest."
Also speaking ahead of tonight's Eurosong competition Cork-born artist Bambie Thug said: "I think that when Russia was made leave the competition… there should be the same rules for everyone. But also it's not down to contestants, it’s down to the Eurovision."
The Late Late Show Eurosong Special, tonight at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
