Activists protest for Gaza against Israeli act on turquoise carpet at Eurovision 2025

As Switzerland kicked off Eurovision 2025 on Sunday, May 11, the first time hosting since 1989, protests erupted over the inclusion of "Israel" amid its ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip. While artists walked the turquoise carpet, pro-Palestine demonstrators waved Palestine's flag and chanted, “Stop the genocide” and “End the occupation,” while others held banners that read: "Ceasefire now" and "Israel kills children." Officials from Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland have all questioned "Israel’s" participation. Similarly, Palestinian organizations and human rights groups in Switzerland have also opposed the Israeli occupation's participation, accusing the EBU of double standards.