The Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster said on Monday, saying the event can "no longer be considered neutral" given divisions over the Gaza war.
"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," said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of AVROTROS, in a statement from the broadcaster.
The contest has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation.
Earlier this month, organisers announced they were excluding any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.
"However, the recently announced changes...do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored," said the AVROTROS statement.
