MALMO, Sweden, May 9 (Reuters) - The second semi-final

of this year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Sweden

on Thursday, with Israel's performance expected to draw

attention due to large pro-Palestinian protests planned in host

city Malmo.

Some 100,000 visitors have gathered in Malmo in southern

Sweden for the annual kitsch-fest, which is watched by some 200

million people worldwide.

Thursday's semi-final will feature two of the favourites to

win, Switzerland's Nemo with the song "The Code" and Joost Klein

of the Netherlands with the song "Europapa," as well as outsider

Eden Golan of Israel with her song "Hurricane".

The 68th version of the song contest takes place amid

protests and boycotts over the Israeli military campaign in

Gaza, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the

event, has resisted calls for Israel to be excluded but asked

Israel to modify the lyrics of its original song "October Rain",

which appeared to reference the Hamas attack.

Tens of thousands are expected at a pro-Palestinian

demonstration in central Malmo at 1300 GMT on Thursday. A

smaller nearby pro-Israel demonstration is scheduled for 1600

GMT.

Gaza-born Swedish student and Palestinian activist Bachar

Garar, 23, will protest what he calls double standards, pointing

to EBU's decision to ban Russia after it invaded Ukraine in

2022.

"After everything that happened, how they've treated Russia

after what happened in Ukraine, they just choose to turn a blind

eye to what's happening in Gaza. So that's hypocrisy for us and

we're trying to put an end to it," he said.

Israeli contestant Golan, 20, says she hopes her performance

will help unite people.

"It's a super important moment for us, especially this

year," she told Reuters in an interview this week. "I feel

honoured to have the opportunity to be the voice of my country."

At the first semi-final on Tuesday, thousands of fans in

quirky and glittery outfits, many dressed up as their favourite

contestant or in their national colours, saw 10 performers,

including favourites Croatia and Ukraine, qualify for Saturday's

final.

Swedish authorities have heightened security and are bracing

for possible unrest during Eurovision week.

"There are sometimes more police than people in sequins, but

overall great fun, we're having a great time," said United

Kingdom supporter Francesca Gaffey, wearing colourful rhine

stones on her forehead, a flower headband and a t-shirt with the

Eurovision slogan 'United by Music'.

Thursday's semi-final is due to begin at 1900 GMT and will

also feature contestants from Malta, Albania, Greece, the Czech

Republic, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino,

Georgia, Belgium, Estonia, and Norway.

Bookmakers have Croatia, Switzerland, Italy and Ukraine as

the favourites to win, while streaming data from Spotify ( SPOT )

suggests a strong chance for the Netherlands or host nation

Sweden.