Belgium makes huge U-turn on Israel’s Eurovision boycott – and Spain risks major fees

Belgium’s broadcaster VRT made a huge U-turn on Saturday – airing the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael. 

It came after Spain risked a huge Eurovision fine, displaying a statement before the show, of a black screen with white text in Spanish and English that read: ‘Justice for Palestine’. 

Ahead of the final, the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) warned Spain’s broadcaster RTVE that if their commentators made constant references to the Gaza conflict they would receive ‘punitive fines’.   

Many thought VRT may ignore the warning and show a black screen during Ms Raphael’s performance.

However, the footage was aired and in a shocking turn of events, the Belgian public voted in favour of Israel, awarding them 12 points. 

During the first semi-final VRT displayed the message: ‘This is industrial action. We condemn the violations of human rights by the State of Israel. 

‘Furthermore, the State of Israel is destroying freedom of the press. That’s why we interrupt the picture for a moment. #CeasefireNow #StopGenocide.’

However, they then listened to the warnings by the EBU and did not do the same during the final.

Belgium’s broadcaster VRT made a huge U-turn on Saturday – airing the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael

The Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) warned Spain’s broadcaster that if their commentators made constant references to the Gaza conflict they would receive ‘punitive fines’

Droves of protesters flocked to Barfüsserplatz in the heart of the Swiss city, which is hosting this year’s Eurovision contest

However, Spain ignored the warning and displayed a 16 second message, which read: ‘When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine.’

It comes amid fury over Israel’s participation in the competition as October 7 survivor Ms Raphael, qualified for the show’s grand final earlier this week.

The politically charged contest is the first major music event Ms Raphael has attended since the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, where she hid under dead bodies for eight hours as Hamas terrorists attacked.

She has received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision. 

Around 4,000 musicians, artist and music industry pros from five Nordic countries signed an open letter denouncing the Middle Eastern country’s entry in the 69th Eurovision song contest in Basel.

Those who signed the statement, including some previous Eurovision winners, dubbed Israel’s involvement in the competition as a bid to ‘whitewash and divert attention’ from the Israel’s bombardment on Gaza.

It argued that Israel ‘should not have the opportunity to polish its public image on the Eurovision stage and thus use this to cover up and continue its human rights violations.’

Elsewhere broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel’s involvement. 

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set alight an Israel and a US flag at the protests in Basel 

A woman held a prop, representing a body bag, as pro-Palestinian demonstrators attend a protest, on the day of the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel

Before the final, Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Eurovision to demand an end to Israel’s participation in the popular song contest.

Droves of protesters flocked to Barfüsserplatz in the heart of the Swiss city, which hosted this year’s Eurovision contest.

Ahead of the much anticipated grand final, crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read ‘boycott Israel apartheid’ and ‘no stage for genocide’, as they waved flags and released flares into the sky.

In a shocking turn of events, Ms Raphael was runner-up in the competition with the piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English. 

While Austria stormed to victory.

Britain’s Eurovision dream came crashing down after the UK entry received zero points from the voting public across Europe for the second year in a row.

Remember Monday, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, represented the UK with their song ‘What The Hell Just Happened?’.

But their song title became a stark reality as fans across Europe snubbed the UK in a humiliating blow for the second consecutive year.

Hampshire-based girl group Remember Monday took to the St Jakobshalle arena stage to represent the UK, performing their song What the Hell Just Happened

Despite storming to the left hand side of the scoring board, they failed to win over the public vote receiving zero points

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Remember Monday, however, as the Hampshire-based girl group, performing in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits, avoided the dreaded ‘nul points’ from the professional jury.

But the 88 points the UK did receive was only enough to land them a disappointing 19th place out of 26 countries.

In the final, each country is awarded two sets of scores – one from a jury of music industry professionals from that nation and the other by fans across Europe. 

Votes for your own country are not permitted.

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