The winner of Eurovision 2025 has been announced!
While Austria won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Switzerland, Israel was protested in the final due to the genocide and attacks it has carried out in Gaza.
AA
The final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, hosted by Basel this year, was held with the participation of 26 countries.
As Israeli representative Yuval Raphael took the stage in 4th place, booing erupted from the audience and Palestinian flags were unfurled while the song was being performed.
It was noted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of the contest, broadcasted applause instead of the booing sounds during the live stream.
Numerous social media users shared footage of singer Raphael being protested and Palestinian flags being opened in the contest arena with the caption, "What actually happened while Israel was singing."
In a report by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), it was reported that 2 people tried to reach the stage by crossing the barriers at the end of Israeli artist Raphael's performance.
The report noted that those protesting Israel were stopped by security guards, and stated that one of the activists threw paint and 2 activists were taken into custody.
AUSTRIA WINS EUROVISION
Norway, Luxembourg, Estonia, Israel, Lithuania, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Austria, Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Poland, Germany, Greece, Armenia, Switzerland, Malta, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, France, San Marino, and Albania took the stage on the final night of the Eurovision Song Contest.
As a result of the jury and audience votes, Austrian representative JJ came in first with 436 points with the song "Wasted Love".
Israel came in second with 357 points, while Estonia took third place with 356 points.
SUPPORT FOR GAZA FROM SPAIN
Spanish state television RTVE also published a message in Spanish and English stating, "When it comes to human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine."
PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF GAZA BEFORE THE FINAL
In Basel, which hosted the Eurovision Song Contest this year, Israel's participation in the contest and the genocide it has carried out in Gaza were protested before the grand final.
Thousands of people gathered at Barfüsserplatz Square in the city reacted to Israel's participation in the contest and demanded that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of the contest, not allow Israel to participate again.
Activists had called for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest because Israel was not expelled.
The EBU, the organizer of the contest, has been the target of criticism for "hypocrisy" and "double standards" because it has not taken a similar decision for Israel, despite banning Russia from the contest since 2022 on the grounds of the war that started in Ukraine.
ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS LEFT THEIR MARK
The first and second semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel on May 13 and May 15, were the scene of anti-Israel demonstrations.
The official opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in front of the Basel City Hall on May 11, was marked by anti-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Many pro-Palestine activists were also among the crowd of thousands who gathered in front of the city hall for the ceremony.