FOR THE FIRST time since rehearsals began in Basel for the Eurovision Song Contest, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was met with boos and pro-Palestinian protests during a performance, while singing at a practice round for the semi-final.

Unlike her first rehearsal in front of a live audience yesterday, where she faced little to no backlash, today’s final “family rehearsal” saw numerous Palestinian flags waved in the crowd.

Some audience members used whistles and booed during her rehearsal performance.

🇮🇱In the last dress rehearsal, the Israeli representative, Yuval, got many Booing and the audience called for the liberation of Palestine.

Report: @ChachaShahar, @EuromixI https://t.co/w1fnD8sFaY pic.twitter.com/9vKkqEMpmI

— Eurovision News (@EurovisionNewZ) May 15, 2025

In a statement this afternoon, Swiss broadcaster SRG said that six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with “oversized flags”.

“Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall,” SRG said.

“We would like to emphasise that the organisers are committed to a neutral, safe, inclusive and respectful environment at the ESC,” the broadcaster added.

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Israel’s presence at the song contest this year has once again been the subject of controversy over its government’s offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 52,800 people.

Several public broadcasters, including RTÉ, have called for a discussion about Israel’s continued participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Broadcasters from Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain have also voiced concerns over Israel’s involvement.

Meanwhile, local campaign groups are planning further protests in Basel throughout the week.

In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has defended Israel’s inclusion, emphasizing that the contest aims to remain “positive and inclusive.”

On Monday, a protester made a slit-throat gesture during a parade taking place in the city as part of the opening events for the song contest. 

Israel’s singer this year, Yuval Raphael, is a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival in Israel in October 2023. 378 people died in the attack on the festival, and over 1,200 were killed in the wider attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October. 

Israel and Ireland’s entry, EMMY, are competing in the second semi-final tonight.

Raphael faced no protestors during her official semi final performance this evening.

Also today, just before the semi final started, one member of the group representing Ukraine learned that her house had been destroyed by Russian shelling. 

Singer’s home destroyed

Ukraine’s musicians cannot escape war, even at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Rock band Ziferblat have learned that the home of backing singer Khrystyna Starykova in a frontline region of eastern Ukraine was destroyed by Russian shelling.

“She’s so strong,” said guitarist Valentyn Leshchynskyi, who formed Ziferblat with his vocalist twin brother Daniil and drummer Fedir Khodakov.

“She is 19 years old only, but the impact of this situation – I think she won’t give up.

“Of course it’s difficult when you’re losing your flat while you need to stay calm to celebrate here because it’s a musical festival, it’s not about the war.”

The band are set to compete for Ukraine in Saturday’s Eurovision grand final with Bird Of Pray, a song whose intense vocals and prog rock sound owe something to the 1970s – as does the bell-bottomed pink suit Daniil Leshchynskyi wore in Tuesday’s semi-final.

Check out our live updates here.

With reporting from Press Association