Anti-Israel protesters removed from Eurovision final after attempting to storm stage with paint
Hundreds of demonstrators faced off with police ahead of the final.
After protesters took over a street in Basel, Switzerland, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final, disruption continued inside the arena.
The Grand Final of the annual competition takes place at St. Jakobshalle tonight, where girl group Remember Monday 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.
Consequently, a Eurovision crew member was hit with paint after two people tried to rush on stage to disrupt Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s performance, organisers confirmed.
A spokesman for Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said: ‘At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.
‘They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint, and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine, and nobody was injured.
‘The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.’
Viewers at home remained unaware of the near-stage invasion, as the moment was not captured by BBC cameras.
A spokesman for Basel police later said: ‘The organiser handed the two people over to the police. The police checked the two people and then released them. It is now up to the organiser to decide whether to press charges.’
Israeli representative Raphael was reportedly left ‘shaken and upset’ after the protesters rushed towards her.
A spokesman for Israeli broadcaster Kan said they were ‘were blocked by security officials, but Raphael was shaken and upset’.
‘The delegation was needed to move location for 15 minutes,’ he added.
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)It comes after harrowing photos captured pro-Palestinian demonstrators lying in front of police officers shortly before the final began, 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.
Many protesters concealed their faces with masks, glasses, and hoods, while others got up close with cops attempting to defuse the situation.
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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.
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)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.
‘The police ask all visitors to avoid the Mittlere Brücke area.’
This year’s Israeli Eurovision entry is New Day Will Rise, performed by 24-year-old singer Raphael.
As she took to the stage near the beginning of the final, UK commentator Graham Norton explained to BBC viewers that her being there was ‘controversial’.
Yuval Raphael is representing Israel with the song New Day Will Rise this year (Picture: AFP)After she finished singing, he noted that there was a ‘mixed reaction’ inside the venue from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Pierra Willix, Metro‘s 2025 Eurovision Reporter, watched live with over 30,000 other fans and press from St. Jakob-Park.
On the response to Raphael, she said: ‘As soon as Israel’s postcard came on, groups of people could be seen leaving their seats, and booing could be heard.
‘But soon after the song began, many people showed their support, turning their phone lights on and cheering, with claps drowning out any boos at the end.’
Raphael’s 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.
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Previous Page Next PageSRG 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.’
The 24-year-old singer had her rehearsal disrupted by protesters earlier in the week (Picture: AFP)
