Tension at the Eurovision 2025 arena in Basel, Switzerland, where during rehearsals for the second semi-final, the performance of Israel's representative, Yuval Raphael, was interrupted after the intervention of pro-Palestinian protesters.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 15, when several people carrying Palestinian flags and blowing whistles entered the arena during the official rehearsal. According to a statement from Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR, “six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal by protesting. Security staff immediately intervened and removed them from the hall.”
The organizers thanked participants and staff for their understanding and confirmed their commitment to a safe, neutral and inclusive environment, where everyone is respected.
Israel's participation this year has been the subject of debate and calls for exclusion due to the war in Gaza. Yuval Raphael, the Israeli representative, is a survivor of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in which an estimated 1.200 people died - a fact that has prompted further discussion about her participation.
Security measures for this year's edition have been significantly increased, with over 1.300 police officers and military and cybersecurity experts on standby. New rules have also been put in place on the flags allowed on stage and in the "green room", where only the national flag is allowed. This effectively bans the LGBTQ+ community flag, but not in the public areas of the arena. Although the Palestinian flag was initially banned, according to sources from Danish broadcaster DR, it will be allowed inside the arena, adding another delicate element to the already tense atmosphere of Eurovision 2025.
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