Pro-Palestine demonstrators have marched on Eurovision to demand an end to Israel’s participation in the popular song contest as the country’s contestant – an October 7 survivor – continues to weather a barrage of hate
Droves of protesters flocked to Barfüsserplatz in the heart of the Swiss city, which is hosting this year’s Eurovision contest, as one protester is seen with blood smeared across her face and a prop, which is said to represent a body bag.
Ahead of tonight’s much anticipated grand final, crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read ‘boycott Israel apartheid’ and ‘no stage for genocide’, as they waved flags and released flares into the sky.
It comes amid fury over Israel’s participation in the competition as Nova Music Festival survivor, Yuval Raphael, qualified for the show’s grand final earlier this week.
Around 4,000 musicians, artist and music industry pros from five Nordic countries signed an open letter denouncing the Middle Eastern country’s entry in the 69th Eurovision song contest in Basel.
Those who signed the statement, including some previous Eurovision winners, dubbed Israel’s involvement in the competition as a bid to ‘whitewash and divert attention’ from the Israel’s bombardment on Gaza.
It argued that Israel ‘should not have the opportunity to polish its public image on the Eurovision stage and thus use this to cover up and continue its human rights violations.’
Elsewhere broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel’s involvement. Last week, 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition.
The politically charged contest is the first major music event Raphael has attended since the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, where she hid under dead bodies for eight hours as Hamas terrorists attacked.
That fateful day saw the militant group kill 1,200 people, with over 250 taken hostage. It in turn sparked a huge Israeli military offensive on the Gaza strip, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
More than 53,000 people have been killed by Israel’s bombardment of the besieged territory, with all aid blocked from entering Gaza since March.
Following Raphael’s defiant performance tonight at the St Jakobshalle arena, Graham Norton said: ‘I’m not sure what you can hear at home. Slightly mixed reception here in the hall.’
It comes after Raphael, who is set to perform New Day WIll Rise, was on the receiving end of loud boos and jeers earlier this week as she qualified for the Eurovision’s grand final.
On Thursday, her preview show was interrupted by six pro-Palestinian demonstrators carrying flags. Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed but there are limits on size, and so the audience members were quickly ejected from the venue.
Later on, footage from the TV broadcast semi-final showed the Israeli entry being booed once again by some sections of the audience, with the jeers more audible on social media footage.
However, the October 7 survivor said her team were preparing for a hostile reception from the audience by rehearsing with background sounds.
‘I think I’m expecting it [booing],’ she told the BBC: ‘But we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.
‘Everybody has opinions. I’m really putting everything aside and just concentrating on the most important thing. The slogan this year is “united by music” and that’s what we are here for.’
Last week, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition.
They appealed to organisers to ban Israel and its national broadcaster from the contest over the country’s ‘genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.’
It added: ‘By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is normalising and whitewashing its crimes.’
The signatories included former winners Charlie McGettigan, Salvador Sobral and Fernando Tordo.
On Sunday, during the Eurovision opening parade in the Swiss host city of Basel, the Israeli broadcasting delegation made a complaint to the police and the EBU after accusing a pro-Palestinian demonstrator of making a throat-slitting gesture and spitting at the delegation.
Raphael said: ‘It was scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I’m here and my agenda, which is spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country.’
Despite the ongoing tension, her song is currently among the favourites to win, according to bookmakers.
Today in the Swiss capital, ESCALATE for Palestine, took to the streets to voice their frustration over Israel’s participation in the popular song contest.
According to RTE, the group first gathered in Barfüsserplatz, where there is an area for a public Eurovision screening set up for this evening, before marching through the city.
A large police presence is in place at the demonstration, as chants of ‘free free Palestine’ echoed through the streets.
It was a stark contrast to a previous silent march held on Wednesday in Basel, where protesters openly voiced their views on the unfolding situation in Gaza.
Elsewhere in Dublin, thousands took to the streets in support of Palestine in a march organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), as they demanded an end to what they called a ‘genocide’ in Gaza.
The protests ahead of tonight’s competition comes amid speculation Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa withdrew from Eurovision hosting duties with the BBC announcement being made just two minutes after the country qualified for the final.
The pro-Palestinian actor, 32, had been due to announce the British jury’s points for each participating country’s song during the Grand Final.
But the BBC issued a statement late on Thursday evening replacing him with singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor triggering speculation it was a protest at the result.
The statement read: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as Spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend.
‘However, we are delighted to confirm that BBC Radio 2’s very own Friday night Kitchen Disco Diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be presenting the Jury result live from the UK.’
The announcement was made moments after Israel’s Yuval Raphael – a survivor of the Hamas massacre at Nova music festival during the October 7 attacks – qualified at Thursday’s semi-final with her song New Day Will Rise.
Gatwa has previously been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photographs of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his Instagram and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes.
The reason for Gatwa’s last minute withdrawal from his hosting duties was not made clear, aside from the BBC’s initial ‘unforeseen circumstances’ message, but fans speculated Israel’s qualification was the cause.
One pro Palestinian social media commentator said: ‘Israel qualified to the Eurovision final at 22:16 last night. Then at 22:18, just two minutes later, the BBC announced Ncuti Gatwa cancelling his appearance on Eurovision for “unforseen circumstances”. We see you Ncuti; we see you and we like you a lot.’
Another said: ‘THAT’s backing up your morals. #FreePalestine.’
Ms Ellis-Bextor, 46, has since stepped in for Gatwa, telling fans: ‘I love Eurovision and it’s a privilege to be part of 2025’s Grand Final. What an honour it is to announce the UK’s jury score on such a special show which always puts music front and centre.
‘I am very much looking forward to delivering the iconic douze points from the United Kingdom!’
The BBC said it had ‘nothing more to add’ on its original statement. Gatwa was approached for comment.
Despite calls for Israel to be banned from the competition, they have managed to succeed to the final and are among bookies favourites to win.
In previous years, other countries have been banned from the contest. Belarus was suspended in 2021 after submitting an overtly political entry and a year later Russia was barred over the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this month Irish national broadcaster RTÉ asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion.
Director General Kevin Bakhurst, said he was ‘appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages’.
Eurovision director Martin Green said organised understood ‘the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East’, but that members should ensure the event remains a ‘universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music’.