Basel in turmoil: Violence at Demo against Israel's ESC participation!

Basel in turmoil: Violence at Demo against Israel's ESC participation!

On May 18, 2025, there was a unexpected demonstration in Basel, which was directed against the participation of Israel 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 "Do not give a stage to the genocide" and scandaled slogans such as "Shame about you" and "Freedom for Palestine".

The security forces intervened at times when two men with Israel flags entered the meeting, which led to disputes. The police used rubber bullets to prevent further escalation. Three police officers were injured during the mission and had to be taken to the hospital with suspicion of bang trauma. In addition, a person from the demonstration was treated on an outpatient basis. The police checked around 400 of those present. The tram traffic in the city center was interrupted for about 45 minutes, and Feldbergstrasse remained closed until around 4:30 a.m.

background and social effects

The demonstration in Basel is part of a wider trend of protesting movements in Europe that have arisen in connection with the conflicts between Israel and Hamas. In many EU countries there were significant restrictions on peaceful meetings in 2023. Pro-Palestinian and climate demonstrations in particular were often the goal of state repression, such as Liberties. There it was reported that countries such as Germany, Sweden and Hungary took measures to prevent or significantly restrict such meetings.

The ESC also has a special symbolism this year, since the participant Yuval Raphael, the survivor of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, takes part in competition. In her song "New Day Will Rise" she addresses loss and hope and was second behind Austria.

This unnecessary demonstration and the associated incidents raise questions about the freedom of assembly and the handling of the authorities with protest movements in Europe. According to the report by Liberties, peaceful meetings are a cornerstone of democracy, and the right to protest and not to undermine through legal restrictions.

In the current political landscape, however, it seems as if these basic rights are more at stake than ever, which could further heat the tensions within society.