Cliff Notes – Pro-Palestine protesters gather in Basel with flares and smeared blood ahead of Eurovision final
- Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied a bridge in Basel, Switzerland, ahead of the Eurovision final, calling for Israel to be banned from the competition due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza.
- Hundreds of protesters displayed banners, wore ‘Boycott Israel’ T-shirts, and smeared themselves with fake blood to symbolise the deaths of children, while police attempted to manage the situation.
- Public transport was disrupted as authorities warned attendees to avoid the protest area, amidst heightened tensions surrounding Israel’s participation in the event.
Pro-Palestine protesters gather in Basel with flares and smeared blood ahead of Eurovision final
Pro-Palestine demonstrators took over a bridge in Basel, Switzerland, ahead of the Eurovision final (Picture: Reuters)
Protesters have taken over a street in Basel, Switzerland, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final.
The Grand Final of the annual competition takes place at St. Jakobshalle tonight, where girl group Remember Monday will represent the UK with their theatrical tune, What The Hell Just Happened?
Despite Eurovision organisers maintaining that the event is ‘non-political,’ however, in recent years, controversy has been heightened by the continued participation of Israel due to the ongoing Gaza war.
Harrowing photos capture pro-Palestinian demonstrators lying in front of police officers shortly before the final is due to begin, taking a stand on a bridge over the Rhine River.
Protesters gathered in droves, wearing ‘Boycott Israel’ T-shirts, holding up banners, and waving flags.
They also smeared themselves – and white blankets, seemingly representing children – with fake blood and lit flares.
They planted themselves on the floor as police tried to control the situation (Picture: Reuters)
Many smeared blood across their faces and blankets to represent the deaths of children (Picture: Reuters)
Many protesters concealed their faces with masks, glasses, and hoods, while others got up close with cops attempting to defuse the situation.
In total, hundreds of the pro-Palestine supporters were seen taking a stand against Israel’s presence in Eurovision, accusing the country of genocide and calling for them to be banned from Eurovision permanently.
Basel police worked to redirect the demonstrators, who were countered by a small number of pro-Israel counter-demonstrators waving flags.
Issuing a warning to fans attending tonight’s show, a message was sent out via the official Eurovision app on behalf of public transport organisers.
It read: ‘Public transport on Eurovision Boulevard is currently being diverted due to a rally.
‘Streetcar number 14 runs between the Main Venue and Eurovision Village via Wettsteinbrücke.
Protesters have demanded that Israel is banned from the Eurovision Song Contest (Picture: AFP)
A warning was issued to fans attending the live show, as public transport has been impacted by the protests (Picture: EPA)
Fans have been asked to avoid the bridge area (Picture: Reuters)
‘The police ask all visitors to avoid the Mittlere Brücke area.’
This year’s Israeli Eurovision entrant is 24-year-old singer Yuval Raphael, whose song is called New Day Will Rise.
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Her Eurovision experience has been anything but smooth sailing, though, as earlier this week, her rehearsal was disrupted, also by demonstrators.
During the preview show on Thursday night, six people with ‘oversized flags and whistles’ obstructed her act.
Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is organising the event, said the group was quickly ejected from the arena.
A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: ‘During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted.
‘Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles.
‘Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall.
‘We would like to thank all the artists, delegations, staff, fans, and guests, including many children, who are making ESC 2025 a unique experience.
‘At the same time, we would like to emphasise that the organisers are committed to a neutral, safe, inclusive and respectful environment at the ESC.’
Videos on social media appeared to show a large Palestinian flag being extended in the crowd across several people, while an Israeli symbol was also seen in the audience.
Yuval Raphael is representing Israel with the song New Day Will Rise this year (Picture: AFP)
During the live evening semi-final, Raphael’s performance passed without incident, and SRG SSR said the ‘atmosphere in the arena remained peaceful and cheerful throughout, and no one was ejected’.
There have been pro-Palestinian protests in the Eurovision host city throughout the week, previously attended by no more than 150 people.
A demonstration against antisemitism with the same police estimate on numbers also took place on Thursday in the city centre.
Israel’s government said that Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attacks, encountered a ‘hostile crowd,’ during the Sunday opening ceremony and criticised the protests.
Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed, but there are size limits.
Earlier, Raphael posted an X video saying she ‘put her heart and soul’ into the song, and telling fans their ‘support means the world’.