Britain’s Eurovision act has refused to back Israel’s entry in the competition.

The country-pop girl group Remember Monday claimed that the Gaza conflict was “such a complex issue” when asked about Israel’s participation in the singing contest.

Speaking ahead of the semi-final on Thursday in Basel, Switzerland, Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele said: “We just think it’s really difficult, it’s such a complex issue and that’s really difficult to comment on in a little soundbite.”

They added: “But we’re so excited, Eurovision was literally created to celebrate; the slogan is ‘United by Music’. We’re excited to be here and be meeting all the acts and participating in such an amazing competition.”

It comes amid another politically heated year for Eurovision, with Pro-Palestine protests expected and the Israeli entrant Yuval Raphael admitting she was “expecting” to be booed on stage.

The 24-year-old contestant is a survivor of Hamas’s assault on the Nova music festival on Oct 7 2023. She is one of 11 people out of 50 to survive in the bomb shelter she fled to after hiding under a pile of dead bodies for eight hours until rescued.