Spanish television channel RTVE has taken a stand against Israel's inclusion at this year's Eurovision Song Contest by airing a pro-Palestine message just moments into Saturday's event.
This year, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael will take to the Eurovision stage in Basel, Switzerland, to represent Israel, amid heightened security and ongoing protests against the nation's participation in the competition.
The 24-year-old performer, who survived the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, will sing New Day Will Rise in the grand final after qualifying from Thursday's semi-final.
Raphael was one of just 11 survivors from a group of around 50 people who took refuge in a concrete bomb shelter during the attack, hiding under dead bodies for eight hours until rescue.
Eurovision 2025: Israel's entry Yuval Raphael has faced plenty of backlash to her participation GETTYIsrael's participation in Eurovision has sparked significant controversy, with pro-Palestinian protesters disrupting Raphael's dress rehearsal on Thursday. According to organisers, six individuals blew whistles and waved large Palestinian flags before being removed from the St Jakobshalle arena.
Critics have called for Israel to be barred from the event, drawing comparisons to Russia's suspension following its invasion of Ukraine. More than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter urging Israel's exclusion.
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Frente a los derechos humanos, el silencio no es una opción. Paz y justicia para Palestina.https://t.co/puZwqrZD76 pic.twitter.com/NnqISBQl6c
— RTVE (@rtve) May 17, 2025
Now, Spanish broadcaster RTVE has followed suit, airing the following message on-screen moments into the grand finale: "When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine."
The statement and stand by the Spanish network have gone viral on social media within minutes of its broadcast, with "#EurovisionRTVE" trending.
The European Broadcasting Union has defended Israel's inclusion, maintaining that Eurovision is a non-political event.
Raphael has revealed she prepared for potential disruptions during her performance by practising with distractions, including booing. "I think I'm expecting it, but we're here to sing and I'm going to sing my heart out to everyone," she told the BBC.
Earlier this week, Israeli broadcaster KAN filed a complaint with police after accusing a pro-Palestinian demonstrator of making a throat-slitting gesture and spitting at the Israeli delegation.
Raphael's song New Day Will Rise features lyrics in English, French and Hebrew, with the Hebrew portion translating to "Many waters cannot quench the love, nor can rivers wash it away."
Yuval Raphael was met by pro-Palestine protestors on Sunday GETTYThe controversy surrounding Israel's participation has drawn parallels to Russia's exclusion from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, though Eurovision director Martin Green has emphasised that it is not the EBU's job to compare conflicts.
The competition features 26 finalists, including the "big five" financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union - Germany, Italy, the UK, France, and Spain - who received automatic entry into the final alongside Switzerland as last year's winner.
Other finalists include Sweden's KAJ, considered the bookies' absolute favourite with their folk-pop composition Bara Bada Bastu, and Finland's Erika Vikman with the provocatively titled Ich komme.
BBC Eurovision: Yuval Raphael made it through to the final following votes by the public
BBCA total of 160 million viewers from around the world are expected to tune in to the broadcast from Basel at 9pm local time (8pm BST) and vote for their favourite act.
The UK's Eurovision spokesperson, originally announced as Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa, has been replaced by singer and BBC Radio 2 presenter Sophie Ellis-Bextor due to "unforeseen circumstances".
