SBS has indicated it will not follow the lead of a growing number of European Union countries and boycott next year’s Eurovision song contest if Israel is permitted to compete.

The decision on Israel’s inclusion will be made by the contest’s governing body in December, but SBS told the Guardian on Tuesday it intended to participate in the 2026 event in Vienna, regardless of December’s decision.

The deadline for broadcasters to file their applications for participation was initially to expire on Monday, followed by a 28-day grace period during which a country could subsequently withdraw its application without incurring a financial penalty.

But earlier this month the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the Eurovision song contest reference group had decided to extend the deadline to mid-December, with the event’s director, Martin Green, issuing a statement saying he wanted to provide “additional flexibility and clarity” while the group undertook consultation with member broadcasters about country participation in next year’s event.

_{Sign up: AU Breaking News email}

Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and Iceland have already signalled they are unwilling to participate if the EBU permits Israel to compete, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to intensify.

The EBU excluded Russia from the competition shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

On Wednesday, Eurovision scotched earlier reports in Israeli media that the EBU had informally proposed to Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, that it either step aside temporarily or compete under a neutral symbol to avoid formal exclusion.

“The EBU has not made any proposals to Kan regarding participation in next year’s Eurovision song contest,” Green told Guardian Australia.

“We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision song contest.

“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each member to decide if they want to take part in the contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”

The Kan chief executive, Golan Yochpaz, told the Times of Israel on Monday that Eurovision was a cultural celebration, not a political battleground, and highlighted his nation’s strong record in recent years, with top-five finishes including a win since Kan’s foundation in 2017.

The Australian Greens and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (Apan) have called for SBS to join the boycott.

The Greens’ foreign affairs spokesperson, senator David Shoebridge, said the “glitz, the sparkles and the music of Eurovision” should not be put above human rights.

“Slovenia, Ireland, the Netherlands and others have said they won’t be singing if Eurovision 2026 gives Israel the world’s stage to whitewash a genocide, and it’s time Australia joined their principled call,” he said.

“Eurovision’s ‘unity through music’ theme is hard to swallow when one contestant is committing ethnic cleansing, starving civilians and killing children.”

Shoebridge accused Eurovision of “gross double standards” by banning Russia from competing over war crimes in Ukraine but “rolling out the red carpet for Israel” while the humanitarian crisis deepened in Gaza.

“It’s not a competition Australia should be anywhere near,” he said.

The Apan president, Nasser Mashni, said Israel should not be allowed to compete in Eurovision, the football World Cup, or the Olympics.

“These events should be reserved for countries who play by the internationally agreed rules and aren’t committing genocide,” Mashni said.

“If they are allowed to participate, it’s the obligation of other countries to boycott.”

Israel denies it is committing a genocide in Gaza.

SBS declined to confirm the EBU had contacted the Australian broadcaster to discuss Israel’s participation.

“SBS has been broadcasting the Eurovision song contest for over 40 years, sharing this global celebration of diversity and inclusion with all Australians,” a spokesperson said.

“SBS intends to continue this tradition with its participation in the 2026 Eurovision song contest. The decision regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision will be made by the EBU over the coming months.”

Do you know more? Contact kelly.burke@theguardian.com