A freshly coined initialism came to light several months following the onset of the military campaign against Gaza. Known as WCNSF, it stands for “Child casualty without any family left”. This term is specific to Gaza, as stated by health professionals such as paediatricians. Typically, it is unusual for doctors to attend to a young patient who has lost their entire family. Yet, there has been no semblance of normality regarding the widespread destruction in Gaza, where complete genealogies have been eradicated and the number of child amputees surpasses that of any other region in the world. No sense of normalcy in scores of doctors arriving back from a sea of ruins with reports of children being intentionally shot at.
Conditions in Gaza persist as an utter catastrophe. Essential medical supplies are failing to reach those in need, and groups like Amnesty International have stated that atrocities are still being committed. The Israeli government disputes these claims, consistent with how it refutes all charges it is charged with. Meanwhile, while grieving children who lost parents are now freezing in makeshift tent camps, there is a little heartwarming news: nothing is going to stop the Eurovision from pursuing its professed goal of “unity and cultural exchange.” Organizers will continue to extend a prestigious stage for Israel, even though several European countries have now withdrawn in objection. And this, it seems, is what global togetherness resembles.
Historically, Eurovision excluded Russia from taking part in 2022 due to the “unprecedented crisis in Ukraine”. However, the situation in Gaza is entirely distinct.
Forget the fact that Israel was accused of irregular participation methods last year in what could be seen as an attempt to inject politics into Eurovision. Forget the fact that a young child was reportedly killed in Gaza just days ago. Forget the fact that settler violence and systematic expulsions in the West Bank have escalated. Disregard the condition that international journalists are still blocked from unfettered access in Gaza. None of this, it would seem, should be permitted to obstruct of Eurovision’s much-touted ethos of unity.
Eurovision turns 70 next year – roughly two times the projected longevity of an individual in Gaza now. The show may go on, but it will find it impossible to reclaim the pure, unadulterated fun it once represented. A competition that initially championed togetherness has devolved into a transparent instrument to whitewash war.
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