Become a Member
World

Protesters in Basel burn Israeli and American flags during illegal Eurovision demonstration

Hundreds of demonstrators blocked public transport to the Eurovision arena just an hour ahead of the grand final on Saturday night

May 17, 2025 19:23
Screenshot 2025-05-17 at 21.08.05.png
Anti-Israel protesters burned and stomped on an Israeli and American flag during a demonstration in Basel ahead of the Eurovision grand final on 17 May, 2025. (Nau.ch/Nico Leuthold)
1 min read

Anti-Israel protesters were seen burning and stomping on Israeli and American flags in the city centre of Basel, Switzerland just an hour ahead of the Eurovision Grand Final on Saturday.

The demonstration, organised by local Palestine activist groups Basel 4 Palestine and ESCalate for Palestine, was attended by hundreds of Palestinian flag-bearing protesters, many of whom held signs accusing the Eurovision broadcaster EBU of being complicit in Israel’s “genocide” and calling for a boycott of the song contest.

https://api.thejc.atexcloud.io/image-service/alias/contentid/1j954suddpxelybebmo/IMG_1923.jpg?f=3x2&w=732&q=0.6[Missing Credit]

According to German-language digital news outlet Nau.ch, the police announced at the scene that the protest was taking place illegally and that demonstrators would be prosecuted if they disobeyed police instructions.