ISRAEL blamed Hamas for hacking a webcast of the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final which showed animated images of explosions instead of a music video on Tuesday.

The decision to host the European music competition in Tel Aviv has angered pro-Palestinian campaigners who have demanded a boycott of the event.

An appeal to Madonna to pull out of performing at the final this weekend failed after she said she would “never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda.”

The Kan website broadcast was hacked and showed explosions near to Tel Aviv, but sought to play down the incident.

Kan spokesman Eldad Koblenz said: “We know that at a certain stage there was an attempt, apparently by Hamas, to commandeer our digital broadcast. But I am happy to say that within a few minutes we managed to assume control over this phenomenon.”

Hamas had not commented on the allegations at the time the Star went to print.

Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza killed more than 20 people, including a pregnant woman and her 14-month old daughter.

The UN is investigating potential Israeli war crimes committed during the Great March of Return protests, during which nearly 200 were killed and thousands injured.