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Basel in turmoil: Violence at demo against Israel's participation in the ESC!
In Basel on May 18, 2025, around 800 people protested against Israel's participation in the ESC. Police controlled demonstrators, three officers were injured.
Basel in turmoil: Violence at demo against Israel's participation in the ESC!
On May 18, 2025, there was an unauthorized demonstration in Basel that was directed against Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). Around 700 to 800 people gathered at Barfüsserplatz around 7 p.m. to express their protest. The demonstrators carried banners with messages such as "Freedom for your vision - United for Palestine" and "Don't give a platform to genocide" and chanted slogans such as "Shame on you" and "Freedom for Palestine".
Security forces intervened at times when two men carrying Israeli flags entered the gathering, which led to clashes. The police used rubber bullets to prevent further escalation. During the operation, three police officers were injured and had to be taken to hospital with suspected blast injuries. In addition, one person from the demonstration was treated as an outpatient. The police checked around 400 of those present. Tram traffic in the city center was interrupted for around 45 minutes and Feldbergstrasse remained closed until around 4:30 a.m.
Background and social impact
The demonstration in Basel is part of a broader trend of protest movements in Europe that have emerged in connection with the conflicts between Israel and Hamas. In many EU countries there were significant restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly in 2023. Pro-Palestinian and climate demonstrations in particular were often the target of state repression, as Liberties documents. It reported that countries such as Germany, Sweden and Hungary have taken measures to prevent or significantly restrict such gatherings.
The ESC also has special symbolism this year, as participant Yuval Raphael, the survivor of the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, is taking part in the competition. She addresses loss and hope in her song “New Day Will Rise” and came second in the competition behind Austria’s JJ.
This unauthorized demonstration and the incidents surrounding it raise questions about freedom of assembly and the authorities' handling of protest movements in Europe. According to the [Liberties] report, peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of democracy and calls for the right to protest to be protected and not undermined by legal restrictions.
However, in the current political landscape, it seems as if these fundamental rights are more at stake than ever, which could further inflame tensions within society.