Israel’s Eurovision contestant felt forced to practise her power ballad to the sounds of booing and chants of “free Palestine” ahead of her performance on Saturday night as the competition descended into chaos. 

Eden Golan, Israel’s 20-year-old act, was filmed singing Hurricane to the backdrop of her team imitating the sounds of pro-Palestine demonstrators in the lead up to the final. 

Golan’s finale performance went off with a mixture of boos and cheers from audience members in the most anticipated act of the night. 

The booing intensified when the singer switched to Hebrew for her final verse in Hurricane, but Golan was unfazed. 

Protesters were shouting at fans waiting to enter Malmo Arena in Sweden to enjoy the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. Demonstrators on both sides of the queue shouted “free Palestine” and “shame”. 

Several protesters have also been forcibly detained and taken away by police.

It came as the beleaguered contest looked close to unravelling just hours before the main event after the Netherlands’ act Joost Klein was disqualified.

Ireland’s Bambie Thug missed their dress rehearsals over an incident with the Israeli broadcaster, France’s Slimane stopped his song to call for peace during a rehearsal.

Slimane’s impromptu speech was greeted with cheers from the crowd inside the Malmo Arena.

Follow along via the Telegraph’s 2024 Eurovision liveblog.

Just hours before the final show started, Norwegian jury spokesman, Alessandra Mele, a former Eurovision contestant, said she would not announce the points for her country and called for a “free Palestine”. 

At Saturday’s dress rehearsal, Palestinian flags were waved at the Eurovision Grand Finale dress rehearsal in breach of the EBU’s strict rules against attendees bringing flags from non-participating countries.

Finland’s Kaarija said they also would not announce points because it “didn’t feel right”.

It came after Kaarija asked for a video of him dancing with Golan to be taken off social media as he clarified he does not “endorse” Israel’s involvement in the song contest.

Amid the furore over Israel’s involvement in this year’s competition while the war in Gaza continues, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises Eurovision, was forced to axe Klein’s performance over an unrelated incident.

It announced early on Saturday that the Dutch rapper and singer, 26, could not perform his techno anthem Europapa after allegations of intimidation were made to the Swedish police by a female production member.

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS later hit out against the EBU for disqualifying Klein, saying that it was a “heavy” and “disproportionate” response to the incident.

They explained that he had repeatedly asked not to be filmed coming off the stage and had made a “threatening movement” towards the camerawoman but clarified that he did not touch her.

The EBU attempted to quash speculation that Klein’s disqualification had anything to do with the Israel controversy as they battled to keep this year’s competition apolitical.

More chaos was heaped on to the organisers as Ireland’s non-binary act, Bambie Thug, missed a rehearsal to make formal complaints regarding “instances I have experienced this week” involving KAN, Israel’s broadcaster.

Writing on Instagram, the singer said: “Earlier today [the EBU] confirmed to my delegation in front of others that KAN’s commentator had broken the rules of conduct during the Eurovision semi-final.

“I have been patiently waiting to hear what action is set to be taken by the EBU following this rule break.”

The Irish singer-songwriter apologised to fans for missing Saturday’s dress rehearsal but said: “I hope to see you on the stage tonight.”

Thug alluded to the incident while speaking to journalists on Friday afternoon, claiming that Israel’s involvement in the competition is “not sitting well with any of the contestants, to be honest” and that it was “an incredibly intense atmosphere”.

Pro-Palestinian protests were set to take place in Thug’s home town Macroom, in Co Cork, to coincide with their performance in the final.

Thug previously admitted to crying after discovering Israel’s Golan had made it through to the final.

Israel’s Eurovision delegation has responded to Thug’s allegations. 

When asked about Thug’s post on Instagram, a spokesman for KAN said: “We wish everyone the best of luck tonight.”

Multiple Eurovision final watch parties across London have been cancelled and boycotted to protest against Israel’s involvement in the contest.

In one of the biggest nights of the year for many LGBTQ+ venues across the country, a number of high-profile events were called off in the capital as well as in Brighton, with one host saying Israel’s inclusion crossed a “red line”.