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 the southern Swedish

city for the annual kitsch-fest, which is taking place amid

protests and boycotts over the Israeli military campaign in

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

Swedish authorities have heightened security and are bracing

for possible unrest during Eurovision week. Police officers have

been seen patrolling the streets of Malmo and, from water

scooters, the city's canals.

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

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

supporter Francesca Gaffey said ahead of the first semi-final on

Tuesday.

Metal barricades and large concrete blocks have been put up

around Malmo Arena, which is hosting the competition, with

police guarding the venue and checking visitors' bags.

Visitors have to pass through metal detectors before

entering the arena, and are only allowed to bring small purses

into the venue.

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".

There is high security around the delegations from all the

countries, according to Malmo police. "We're keeping a bit of an

extra eye on Israel of course, because of the situation," Lotta

Svensson, a police incident commander, told Reuters on Sunday.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the

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

the country 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."

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.