Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are planning a “silent” march through the streets of Basel to oppose Israel’s involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest, reports RTE.
The local organisation, Basel for Palestine, encouraged participants not to engage in “chants or slogans” as they march through the city on Wednesday, marking the date of Israel’s founding as a state on 14 May 1948.
On social media, the group posted: “On the eve of the Nakba day, we invite you all to join us on a silent walk through the city of Basel,” reports RTE.
Nakba Day, observed on 15 May, commemorates the displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians from their homes in 1948.
More demonstrations supporting Palestine are scheduled for Saturday evening, following the presence of Middle Eastern flags at the contest’s opening ceremony last Sunday.
Broadcasters from countries like Ireland, Spain, and Iceland have raised concerns about Israel’s participation, and on Tuesday, charity Oxfam released a video campaign titled Speak Up for Palestine on Belgian network VRT, which broadcasts Eurovision locally, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, Basel police have sanctioned a separate protest against antisemitism for Thursday, coinciding with performances by Israeli artist Yuval Raphael and Ireland’s EMMY in the second semi-final.
During Tuesday’s event, Canadian superstar Celine Dion appeared in a recorded message expressing her desire to be in Switzerland, the country she represented and won for in 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, reports RTE.
Organisers remain “in close contact” with Dion, amid ongoing rumours of a surprise stage appearance in Saturday’s final, though her health continues to be a concern.
Ukraine advanced to the final with Ziferblat’s Bird Of Pray, continuing the nation’s flawless qualification record since joining the contest in 2003. Sweden’s KAJ also made it through and are considered frontrunners with their track Bara Bada Bastu.
The 2025 semi-final brought changes, including relaxed flag policies in Malmö 2024. As a result, Palestinian symbols were occasionally visible in the first semi-final broadcast, reports RTE.
Previously, pro-Palestinian flags were banned in Malmö during last year’s contest, but spectators still managed to sneak them in following the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted in October 2023.
Another noticeable change on Tuesday was the absence of Eurovision executive supervisor Martin Osterdahl from the arena’s crowd of 6,500, reports RTE.
Instead, Osterdahl verified the results backstage with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) team. He made a brief on-screen appearance, following booing incidents from last year’s show.
Before revealing the qualifying countries, co-hosts Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer performed a musical number about Swiss-made products. They also seemingly referenced Eurovision’s neutral stance and the contest’s origins in Lugano, 1956, reports RTE.
Brugger sang: “And now you understand that, like the Swiss, Eurovision is non-political, strictly neutral. Doesn’t matter if you’re good or brutal, welcome gender diversity, but with decency and no nudity.”
Other finalists include Estonia’s Tommy Cash with the quirky Espresso Macchiato, Poland’s dramatic Justyna Steczkowska with Gaja, and Iceland’s Vaeb with Roa, reports RTE.
Additional acts progressing to the final are San Marino’s Gabry Ponte with the upbeat Tutta L’Italia, Albania’s Shkodra Elektronike with the folk-inspired Zjerm, Portugal’s Napa with Deslocado, and Norway’s Kyle Alessandro with Lighter.
Switzerland had not secured a win since Celine Dion’s 1988 victory in Dublin until Nemo took the title with The Code at Malmö 2024. In homage to Dion, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi was performed at the St Jakobshalle arena by past Eurovision stars, including Silvester Belt and Iolanda, reports RTE.
The Eurovision semi-final continues on Thursday, 15 May, airing live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 8pm.
The Grand Final will be broadcast live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 8pm on Saturday, 17 May, reports RTE.
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