Eurovision Contest to start this week in Switzerland amid controversy
Five countries automatically qualify for the grand final each year thanks to the size of their financial contribution to the contest's organiser, the European Broadcasting Union – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
Last year the contest hit the headlines due to political tensions and artist complaints.
The competition, usually the preserve of the weird and most wonderful acts that Europe has to muster, found itself bogged down in Malmo, Sweden, in controversy and politics amid the war in the Middle East.
The event began with a boycott, featured protests, and a rare disqualification along with criticism from artists, and the 2024 winner Nemo Mettler saying they were "really sad" after their triumph with The Code.
UK's Olly Alexander and Ireland's Bambie Thug – called for an "immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages" during the Hamas-Israel war.
This year, protesters could target Basel during the week of the Eurovision Song Contest, as Israel's participation continues to generate anger amid the war in Gaza.
The city is hosting the 2025 contest, after Switzerland's Nemo won last May in Sweden with The Code, which explored them coming to terms with their non-binary identity.
About 1,300 Swiss police officers will be on duty in Basel this week, with more forces drafted in from the Swiss Armed Forces, federal police and neighbouring countries – Germany and France – ahead of the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and the grand final on Saturday.
Basel police's head of communications Adrian Plachesi said that the force was aware these type of events could mean an "increased risk of terror attacks" from extremists, and they were also monitoring in case of "cyber attacks" on the city's infrastructure.
The force has stepped up video surveillance because of the "heightened threat level" and the city centre has some road closures, Swiss police said.
Local campaigners Basel for Palestine attempted to place Palestinian flags near the Eurovision opening event, the Turquoise Carpet, on Sunday, and more protests are scheduled for Saturday in the city centre at 7pm.
Israel's Government has issued a warning to its citizens travelling to Basel that "events of this type are a preferred target for threats and attacks by various terrorist elements", and urged them to avoid "hot spots and these demonstrations, which could escalate into violence".
The EBU conducted a review and pledged a new code of conduct for 2025, with a raft of measures to "protect" the wellbeing of artists in Basel.
This year, former Eurovision competitors such as Ireland's winner Charlie McGettigan, and the UK's Mae Muller, who came second last in 2023, have signed a letter calling for a ban on Israel's public broadcaster Kan, and accusing Israel of "genocide", which Israel denies.
Last week, Irish protesters, including The Crying Game actor Stephen Rea, pushed for an RTÉ boycott of the event. RTÉ has written to the EBU to have "a wider discussion" on Israel's inclusion.
Emmy, a Norwegian national will be representing Ireland this year at the competition with her song Laika Party.
The 24-year-old said that she met a songwriter from Ireland at a songwriting camp so "it felt natural to submit the song for Ireland".
She began making her own songs at the age of seven and her career got a kick-start in 2015 when, as a 15-year-old, she participated in Melodi Grand Prix Junior, one of the biggest music competitions in her country, for children.
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Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Israel's growing frustration over war in Gaza erupts in nationwide protests
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'The only way to bring (hostages) back is through a deal, all at once, without games,' former hostage Arbel Yehoud said at a demonstration in Tel Aviv. Her boyfriend Ariel Cunio is still held by Hamas. Demonstrators block a road during a protest near Jerusalem (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) One protester carried a photo of an emaciated Palestinian child from Gaza. Such images were once rare at Israeli demonstrations but now appear more often as outrage grows over conditions for Palestinian civilians after more than 250 malnutrition-related deaths. An end to the war does not seem near. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is balancing competing pressures including the potential for mutiny within his coalition. 'Those who today call for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas's position and delaying the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will be repeated,' Mr Netanyahu said, referencing the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that killed some 1,200 people and sparked the war. The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages earlier this year, far-right members of his cabinet threatened to topple Mr Netanyahu's government. Frustration is growing in Israel over plans for a new military offensive in some of Gaza's most populated areas (Mahmoud Illean/AP) Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called the demonstrations on Sunday 'a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas's hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardise its security and future'. The new offensive would require the call-up of thousands of reservists, another concern for many Israelis. Hospitals and witnesses in Gaza said Israeli forces killed at least 17 aid-seekers on Sunday, including nine awaiting UN aid trucks close to the Morag corridor. Hamza Asfour said he was just north of the corridor awaiting a convoy when Israeli snipers fired, first to disperse the crowds, then from tanks hundreds of metres away. He saw two people with gunshot wounds. 'It's either to take this risk or wait and see my family die of starvation,' he said. Protesters gathered at dozens of locations, including in Tel Aviv (Maya Levin/AP) The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which runs the Israeli-backed and US-supported distribution points that have become the main source of aid since they opened in May, said there was no gunfire 'at or near' its sites, which are located in military-controlled areas. Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions. Israel's air and ground war has displaced most of Gaza's population and killed more than 61,900 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. Two children and five adults died of malnutrition-related causes on Sunday, according to the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own. The United Nations has warned that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. Most aid has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after ending a ceasefire. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organisations say the flow is far below what is needed. It is not clear when Israel's military will begin the new offensive in the crowded Gaza City, Muwasi and what Mr Netanyahu has called the 'central camps' of Gaza. Humanitarian aid was airdropped to Palestinians over Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The military body that co-ordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza, COGAT, this weekend noted plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones to southern Gaza 'for their protection'. But designated 'safe zones' have also been bombed during the war. War-weary Palestinians said on Sunday that they would not leave, arguing that there was 'no safe place' in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, escalating strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who since the war in Gaza began have fired missiles at Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah Television said the strikes targeted a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a fire and knocking it out of service. Israel's military said the strikes were launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Mounting fear in Gaza at Israeli plan to push out 1m Palestinians
Palestinians were gripped by fear and anxiety on Sunday after the Israeli military said it was preparing for the forcible displacement of one million people from Gaza City . The announcement came days after Israel said it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of the territory's largest urban centre, in a plan that raised international alarm, and in advance of the IDF 's latest attacks in the Palestinian territory which Gaza's health officials said had killed at least 40 people on Saturday including a baby in a tent and people seeking aid. 'Based on the directives of the political leadership, and as part of the Israel Defense Forces' preparations to transfer civilians from combat zones to the southern Gaza Strip for their safety, starting tomorrow [Sunday], the provision of tents and shelter equipment for Gaza residents will resume,' read a statement by the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Palestinian Territories. [ Thousands of Israelis join one-day general strike in support of hostages Opens in new window ] 'The equipment will be transferred through the Kerem Shalom crossing by the United Nations and international relief organisations, after undergoing thorough inspection by the Land Crossings Authority of the Ministry of Defense,' it added. Meanwhile, new recordings broadcast by an Israeli TV station showed the Israeli general who headed military intelligence on October 7th, 2023, saying that 50 Palestinians 'must die' for every person killed that day, and 'it does not matter now if they are children'. The channel said the undated conversations were recorded 'in recent months'. Thousands of Israelis stayed home from work, flooded city streets and blocked roads and highways across the country on Sunday, staging some of the largest anti-war protests in months as the military prepares for a major assault on Gaza City. — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) And in the United States, the state department announced that it would stop issuing visas to children from Gaza in desperate need of medical care after an online pressure campaign from Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer close to Donald Trump who has described herself as 'a proud Islamophobe'. [ US stops issuing visas for sick Gazan children after campaign led by Laura Loomer Opens in new window ] Following Israel's announcement, Palestinians in Gaza – displaced repeatedly, forced to live in tent camps or amid the ruins of their homes, stricken by hunger and deprived of medical supplies – are bracing for another humanitarian disaster. A new offensive would force them towards the south of the territory and an uncertain future. 'We are already destroyed and exhausted, physically and psychologically, from repeated displacement, from the lack of food and water,' said 85-year-old Gaza City resident Akram Shlabia. 'And now they want us to go to the south! Into nothingness, into the unknown, into a place without shelter or the basic means of life, even safety.' 'We will face many problems in displacement,' said Mazen Hasaneh (40), who has been displaced six times during the war. 'First, securing a way to transport the necessary items like a tent and other basics, and of course many drivers will exploit people's desperation and raise prices, while people have no money to pay. 'The second problem is finding a place to set up the tent and settle ... especially in our current conditions.' Some families have already begun moving south to secure shelter in anticipation of possible evacuation, while others are contacting relatives to ask about available space should the Israeli plan proceed. Yet many say they will remain in Gaza City, declaring they would rather stay than face the hardships of displacement. 'If the plan is carried out, I will look for a safe place for myself and my children within Gaza and I will not consider moving to the south of the Strip,' said Asma Al-Barawi, the mother of seven children. 'I didn't leave the first time, and I won't leave this time. The experiences and suffering I heard from the displaced who went south were harsh and unbearable. 'I lost everything because of this war. I lost two of my brothers, two of my maternal aunts with their families, my cousin, and my father-in-law. And I lost my new home, which I only left with some clothes.' In recent days, heavy explosions have echoed from areas east of Gaza, where Israeli forces have intensified operations, including artillery barrages and the start of an incursion on the outskirts of the Sabra neighbourhood. On Saturday, a baby girl and her parents were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a tent in al-Muwasi, previously designated a humanitarian zone by Israel, in southern Gaza, said Nasser hospital officials and witnesses. 'Two-and-a-half-months-old, what has she done?' asked a neighbour, Fathi Shubeir. 'They are civilians in an area designated safe.' Israel's military said it could not comment on the strike without more details. Al-Muwasi is now one of the most heavily populated areas in Gaza after Israel pushed people into the desolate area. But Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu said last week that the country planned to widen its coming military offensive to include the area, along with Gaza City and 'central camps' – an apparent reference to the built-up Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza. According to the civil defence agency, at least 13 of the Palestinians killed on Saturday were shot by troops as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites in the north and south. There were also another 11 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza over the past 24 hours, said the health ministry, including at least one child. That brought malnutrition-related deaths due to the Israeli blockade on aid to 251. – Guardian
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Irish Times
Thousands of Israelis join one-day general strike in support of hostages
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis joined a one-day general strike on Sunday in support of hostages held in Gaza . The strike was called for by the families of the 50 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. They have been in captivity in Gaza for 681 days. Protesters blocked roads across the country and burned tyres as they urged the government to seal a ceasefire with Hamas that includes the release of all the hostages. At least 38 people were arrested as police used water cannons to clear the roads. A number of clashes occurred between protesters and irate motorists caught in traffic jams. However, drivers were generally supportive, beeping their horns in solidarity. At Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, a giant Israeli flag displaying the faces of the hostages served as the focal point for demonstrations. Released hostage Arbel Yehoud, whose boyfriend is still held captive, warned that military pressure will not free those still in Gaza. 'I know firsthand what it's like to be in captivity. I know that military pressure doesn't bring hostages back — it only kills them,' she said. 'The only way to bring them back is through a deal, all at once, without games.' READ MORE The parents of Alon Ohel, who is still held hostage in Gaza, called for the government to hold a referendum on a hostage deal. The strike organisers said Sunday's protest marked the first stage of stepped-up activity to press for a ceasefire. Plans are under way to set up a protest encampment along the Gaza border fence to continue the struggle for the hostages' release. The protests were disrupted in the afternoon when a missile fired from Yemen set off sirens, sending Israelis rushing to bomb shelters. The missile was intercepted. The Histadrut trade union federation refused to endorse the strike, arguing that it would politicise the struggle to free the hostages. Most companies and shopping centres operated normally. However, many workers, particularly from the high-tech sector and academia, took the day off to join the protests. President Yitzhak Herzog joined the protesters in Tel Aviv, saying: 'All of Israel wants the hostages back home.' He urged the international media and decision makers to tell Hamas there will be no ceasefire until they release the hostages. Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that the strike was a mistake. [ Journalists protest over press death toll in Gaza amid accusations of Israeli 'media blackout' strategy Opens in new window ] 'Those who call to end the war delay the hostages' release and guarantee that the horrors of October 7th will return,' he said in a reference to the Hamas attack on southern Israel in 2023. 'To advance the release of the hostages and to guarantee that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel anymore, the job must get done and Hamas must be defeated,' he said. Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces are continuing preparations to conquer Gaza city and expel more than 800,000 residents further south. Thousands of residents have already fled the city's southern Zeitoun neighbourhood, home to about 50,000 people, after days of continuous Israeli bombardment. The Israeli military said it would again begin allowing tents to be brought into Gaza by aid agencies for the new war refugees. Hamas said on Sunday that Israel's planned Gaza relocation plan constitutes a 'new wave of genocide and displacement' for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area. The group termed Israel's planned deployment of tents in the southern Gaza Strip a 'blatant deception.' More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. 1,200 were killed in the Hamas attack on southern Israel and 250 others taken hostage.
