Eurovision Confirms Pro-Palestine Protesters Were Removed After Disrupting Israel's Rehearsal

The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is showing no signs of slowing down.

Because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, many critics have called for Israel to be removed from the competition in recent years, similarly to the controversy surrounding Russia before they were banned in 2022.

Earlier this month, more than 70 acts associated with the contest in the past – including numerous former winners – co-signed an open letter calling for Israel’s removal from Eurovision, which was later backed by reigning champion Nemo.

The Swiss star told HuffPost UK last week: “I personally feel like it doesn’t make sense that Israel is a part of this Eurovision.”

“Israel’s actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold — peace, unity, and respect for human rights,” they added.

Organisers have now revealed that on Thursday, hours before Israeli singer Yuval Raphael performed in the live second semi-final, her dress rehearsal performance was disrupted by a group of pro-Palestine protesters.

In a statement, Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR confirmed: “During the dress rehearsal for the second semifinal 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,” the statement continued.

“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.”

Palestinian flags are allowed in the Eurovison arena this year – along with any other flags, as long as they don’t violate Swiss law.

However, only audience members are allowed to wave them, while acts in the competition must only hold the national flag of the country they’re representing in “official spaces”, a decision which has sparked controversy of its own.

Eurovision organisers have previously defended Israel’s involvement in this year’s competition, leading to calls for a boycott from some, including the Palestine-led BDS movement.

Yuval Raphael arrived in Basel last week, and made her first official appearance at the Eurovision launch on Sunday afternoon, where she and the Israeli delegation were met with jeers from pro-Palestine demonstrators.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan has also made an official complaint to Swiss police, after a threatening gesture was allegedly made towards Yuval by one protester.

She toldBBC News that this first day of Eurovision was “frightening, even at times uncomfortable”, and like last year’s Israeli representative, Eden Golan, she maintained a low profile in the days before her semi-final performance, doing only a handful of media appearances and interviews.

On whether she expects to be booed when she appears on stage, she added: “I think I’m expecting it. But we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.”

Yuval’s semi-final performance on Thursday eventually went ahead without incident, and she has made it through to the live final on Saturday.

After Ireland’s RTÉ became the fourth national broadcaster to raise questions to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about Israel being in the competition, a spokesperson said that discussions will be held about it – albeit only when this year’s Eurovision is over.