Singer Mary Coughlan said she doesn't think "anybody with a conscience" could perform at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
Ms Coughlan is one of over 400 Irish artists who have called on Irish singer Bambie Thug to boycott this year's competition on account of Israel's participation.
The artists say that by participating in Eurovision the singer "will be standing with the oppressor" and they are asking them to stand "on the right side of history."
The letter also criticises the 'forced starvation' of people in Gaza by denying access to humanitarian aid and the escalation in attacks by settlers and soldiers on Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank.
Ireland's 2024 Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug after their win at Eurosong, 26/01/2024. Image: RTÉThe artists say participation in "any enterprise that provides cover for and normalises such gross human rights violations is simply unconscionable".
The letter adds its voice to the more than 16,500 members of the public who have petitioned RTÉ's Director-General Kevin Bakhurst to withdraw Ireland’s participation.
Israel has been accused of genocide against the Palestinian people with more than 34,000 people killed in Gaza - including 14,685 children and 9,670 women - according to local health authorities.
Mary Coughlan told The Hard Shoulder she wants to see Ireland take a stand.
"I've listened to all the arguments and all that but this is just purely artist to artist," she said.
"I would myself have the respect of my peers and other artists rather than to go on some television programme that is largely viewed as entertainment.
"It is political now; it was made political when they removed Russia in 2022 [for its invasion of Ukraine]."
'Always stood with the oppressed'
Ms Coughlan said Ireland has always done the right thing.
"We have always in this country stood with the oppressed," she said.
"We've always done concerts, we've always raised awareness, we've always raised consciousness, we've always done the right thing.
"We're watching it every single day and I don't think anybody with a conscience could get up in front of a broader European stage.
"I don't think it's a good thing, it's not a good look".
'It's a big stage'
Ms Coughlan said she doesn't believe protests will be allowed at the event in Malmö this May.
"We asked Bambie Thug and we thought it would be a greater show of solidarity with Palestine... if she just refused to go and made that public," she said.
"Everybody wants to do the Eurovision, I understand as an artist it's a big, big stage".
Ms Coughlan added that she "would not go" if she had the choice.
Bambie Thug has previously said Israel should not take part in Eurovision.
