Pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to gather in Basel, Switzerland, this week for the start of the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel’s participation in the event continues to draw criticism amid the war in Gaza.
Around 1,300 Swiss police officers will be on duty in the city this week, along with additional forces from the Swiss Armed Forces, the federal police and neighbouring countries Germany and France, ahead of the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday and the final on Saturday.
Basel police spokesman Adrian Plachesi said no permits had been issued for protests, but police would be on duty at expected pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Local pro-Palestinian activists tried on Sunday to put up Palestinian flags near the venue of the Eurovision opening ceremony, the “Turquoise Carpet,” and new protests are planned for 7 p.m. on Saturday in the city centre.
Calls to exclude Israel from the contest
Switzerland’s representative Nemo, who won last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden, said he was against Israel’s participation in this year’s contest and supported calls for its exclusion.
In an interview with the British digital publication HuffPost, the singer said he does not support Israel’s continued participation in the contest, which begins on May 13 in Basel, Switzerland.
Nemo said: “Personally, I don’t think it makes sense for Israel to participate in Eurovision, or in this contest in general. I do not support Israel’s participation in Eurovision.”
Stating that he supports the call to exclude Israel from the contest, Nemo added: “Israel’s actions are fundamentally contrary to the values that the Eurovision Song Contest claims to uphold, such as peace, unity and respect for human rights.”
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place on May 13, the second semi-final on May 15 and the final on May 17.
Nemo, together with representatives of 10 European countries, called for a “ceasefire in Gaza” before the start of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, which was marked by protests against Israel and support for Palestine.
More than 70 singers, musicians and songwriters who have previously participated in the Eurovision Song Contest have demanded that Israel be excluded from the contest.
Former contestants from various countries, including Hadise Açıkgöz, who represented Turkey at Eurovision in 2009, signed a letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) demanding that Israel be excluded from the contest.
In response to the artists’ calls to exclude Israel from Eurovision, the EBU stated: “We want the contest to take place in a positive and inclusive atmosphere, away from political debates.”
