Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros has pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest, saying that the competition can no longer be considered neutral while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict.
In a statement, external released on Monday, the broadcaster said the decision was due to a lack of clarity from organisers – the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) – over assessing which countries could compete.
Avrotros added: "The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom have contributed to increasing divisions surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years."
Earlier this month, the EBU updated its rules to state that if a country involved in an armed conflict wins the competition, it will be ineligible to host it the following year. But Avrotros said those changes "do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored".
The broadcaster's withdrawal from next year's contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, does not necessarily rule out Dutch participation.
Another public broadcaster could potentially take it on as the country has several.
Avrotros pulled out of this year's event in Austria, Vienna, which the Netherlands also boycotted after Israel were allowed to compete.
Only Ireland and Sweden have won Eurovision more than the Netherlands.
Martin Green, director of the contest, said in a statement that the EBU regretted Avrotros's decision but respected its views.
"We will now continue our dialogue with NPO, the umbrella organisation for Dutch public service media, regarding the opportunities for another broadcaster to participate. We very much hope that audiences and artists in the Netherlands can continue to be represented in the Eurovision Song Contest."
Taco Zimmerman, director general of Avrotos, said the Eurovision Song Contest "was originally created to bring people and countries together" but was now "a platform for division".
He said: "It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character.
"The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division. As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values."
He added: "They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts. That is painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the contest again next year."
Green, however, stated that the contest "has always been a place to bring people together, celebrate diverse communities, and show that a better world is possible even in the most difficult times".
