Tel Aviv, 22 February 2024 (dpa/MIA) — The song titled "October Rain" with which singer Eden Golan will represent Israel at this year's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Sweden has already triggered public debate in Israel about potential disqualification, the news website ynet reported Wednesday.

According to media reports, the song refers to the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7 last year, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.

However, the song has not yet been officially presented. According to the report, Israeli public broadcaster Kan insists that the lyrics of the song should not be changed, even if this costs its participation.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the annual song contest, said it "is currently in the process of scrutinizing the lyrics, a process which is confidential between the EBU and the broadcaster until a final decision has been taken. All broadcasters have until 11 March to formally submit their entries."

"If a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason, broadcasters are then given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics, as per the rules of the Contest," the EBU said.

The organisers had previously spoken out against the exclusion of Israel, which Swedish artists, for example, had called for due to the war in Gaza. According to the organizers, the event should remain apolitical.

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Swedish city of Malmö on May 11.