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Eurovision Opens Amid Protests and Tensions in Basel

5/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

At Eurovision's grand opening in Basel, Switzerland, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael took the stage amid fierce protests, including a chilling throat-slitting gesture from a demonstrator. As anti-Israel sentiments rise, calls for exclusion grow louder. Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, delivered his performance against a backdrop of heightened tension.

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Story summary

At Eurovision's grand opening in Basel, Switzerland, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael took the stage amid fierce protests, including a chilling throat-slitting gesture from a demonstrator. As anti-Israel sentiments rise, calls for exclusion grow louder. Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, delivered his performance against a backdrop of heightened tension.