Israel’s Yuval Raphael was met with a crowd of pro-Palestine protestors, including a man making a throat-slitting gesture, as the opening ceremony parade officially kicked off the Eurovision Song Contest week in Basel, Switzerland.
The man, who was waving a Palestinian flag and wearing a keffiyeh, was seen making the gesture and spitting toward the Israeli procession during the “turquoise carpet” event.
Signs reading, “No applause for genocide” and “Singing while Gaza burns” were seen along with crowd boos also heard as Raphael stepped onto the carpet ahead of the major event.
Raphael, who is a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack at the Nova music festival, waved and blew kisses to the crowd and posed for photographs, waving the Israeli flag.
Israel’s Yuval Raphael was met with a crowd of pro-Palestine protestors, including a man making a throat-slitting gesture, as the opening ceremony parade officially kicked off the Eurovision Song Contest week in Basel, Switzerland
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The reaction sparked Israel’s Kan public broadcaster to file a complaint with Swiss police before releasing a statement asking for help identifying the man.
The European Broadcasting Union, the leading organisation behind the Eurovision Song Contest, said it was a matter for Swiss police when asked to comment.
The organisation has repeatedly rejected all appeals to have Israel barred from the contest.
Last year, Israel’s contestant Eden Golan skipped the turquoise carpet event due to security concerns.
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Yuval Raphael, who is a survivor of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack at the Nova music festival, waved and blew kisses to the crowd and posed for photographs, waving the Israeli flag.
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The 2024 event also coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The 24-year-old Israeli singer will perform her song “New Day Will Rise” in the Eurovision semi-final on Thursday evening, with the aim of sending a message of healing and solidarity.
The event's grand final will take place on Saturday.
She told The Times of Israel that she focused on the music, not the “background noise.”
Palestinian flags were seen as Raphael stepped onto the carpet ahead of the major event
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Raphael added: “There are things that I can control and things that I can’t control. Ultimately, there’s no point investing energy in something I can’t control. The most important thing to me is to bring honour to my country and do the best I can.”
Public anti-Israel sentiments in Switzerland are not believed to be as high as those in Sweden, leading experts to believe the protests will be smaller than 2024.
Despite this, Israel’s National Security Council released a travel advisory for Israelis attending the annual song contest.
It warned Israelis to avoid demonstrations and refrain from displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols.
