Eurovision fans have hit out at "divisive" protests threatening the final of the song contest, as crowds gather outside the Malmo Arena in Sweden.
It comes as Israel's contestant Eden Golan has progressed to the grand final of the show, taking place tonight. Her place in the competition has sparked backlash following the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Golan has been ordered to stay in her hotel room by Israeli authorities for her own safety.
Counter-terrorism police are also patrolling the area, as well as a heightened security presence in the city.
Eurovision fans call for an end to division ahead of the grand final
GB News
Sharing their views on the protests, fans attending the event told GB News they don't want to "bring politics into the show" and is simply about "bringing people together" to enjoy the music.
However, others were in support of the protesters and their calls for Israel to be removed from the lineup, admitting they "disagree" with the country's involvement.
One attendee told GB News: "I understand it and I personally disagree with their [Israel] involvement, and a lot of the stuff that's happened in the past 24 hours.
"All of the videos coming out from inside the arena in general is become a bit too much as well."
Mass demonstrations have swept Malmo ahead of the Eurovision final
Reuters
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Other Eurovision fans, who were attending to support Ireland, were against the protesting around the arena and the hotel where Golan is staying, claiming they were attending the final to "enjoy the show".
They told GB News: "We're here to enjoy the show, the family's here to enjoy it and we're not bringing politics into the show."
Another fan said although they are personally "not very political", the protests are an attempt to "cause division" within Eurovision and the communities.
She said: "I'm not particularly political, I tend to stay out of it. But I think a competition like this, it's about bringing people together and not trying to cause a lot of division. I just don't think that's the right kind of attitude to have."
Eurovision fans have hit out at the protests ahead of tonight's final
GB News
Other Eurovision attendees said they had managed to "avoid most of anything that's going on" with the protesting and backlash against Israel, but claimed the situation had been "a little bit exaggerated by mainstream broadcasting".
The protests are expected to take place this afternoon outside of the arena, in the build up to the grand final taking place tonight.
Eden Golan has been stuck in her hotel room and ordered to remain there by Shin Bet, Israel's MI5.
