Newsroom
The Eurovision Song Contest got off to a rocky start in Basel, Switzerland, as protests erupted against Israel’s participation, casting a shadow over the glitzy Opening Ceremony.
Outside Basel’s City Hall, where contestants from across Europe gathered to kick off Eurovision week, dozens of demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading “While we sing, Gaza burns” and “No applause for genocide.” The target of their anger: Israel’s representative, singer Yuval Raphael, and her delegation.
The protest quickly escalated. Footage from the scene shows a man spitting at the Israeli group and hurling threats. Chants condemning Israel’s involvement in the contest rang out, with protesters accusing Eurovision organizers of turning a blind eye to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
One of the most repeated slogans was: “We sing while Gaza starves.”
In response, Israeli broadcaster Kan urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to step in and identify the man seen spitting in the video. But the EBU said the matter falls under Swiss jurisdiction and should be handled by local authorities.
Despite the backlash, Yuval Raphael stood her ground, urging the public to separate politics from performance.
“There are things I can control and things I can’t,” she said. “There’s no point in putting my energy into things outside my control. What matters most is representing my country and giving it my all.”
This year’s Eurovision was always expected to be politically charged, but the scene in Basel highlights just how much global conflicts are bleeding into what has long been billed as a night of music, unity, and celebration.
