A protest group claims he was assaulted
David Curry being led away(Image: Youth Demand)
A man from Manchester arrested at the Eurovision Song Contest during an on-stage performance by Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was assaulted by security guards, a protest group has claimed.
As reported, the singer was left ‘shaken and upset’ after the incident during the 2025 final in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday night, her team has said. Israel came second in the contest, behind Austria.
Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, said its supporters David Curry, 22, from Manchester, and Meaghan Leon, 27, from London, had been arrested.
On its website, the group alleged David was slapped by guards who pulled his hair. An image of him being led out of the arena has also been issued.
Youth Demand said: “At approximately 9.30pm, three Youth Demand supporters were forcibly removed from the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, during Yuval Raphael’s performance of ‘New Day Will Rise’.
“Security guards could be seen assaulting one of the supporters, David, including slapping him and pulling his hair. The three were then placed behind a screen outside the venue by security and held by armed police before being released.”
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael(Image: Getty Images)
Through the group, he issued a statement saying: “After dropping the equivalent of six Hiroshima’s’ worth of bombs on Gaza, Israel has been blockading all food, water and key medical aid from entering Gaza for over three months now. Israel is being armed and aided by UK and European governments, whilst they murder a child every 45 minutes. To top it off, here we are having a party with them on the biggest stage of them all!”
The incident took place as the October 7 survivor sang her entry New Day Will Rise, which was greeted with cheers and boos, as BBC Eurovision commentator Graham Norton said there was a ‘mixed response’ in the arena.
Israel finished in second place with 357 points, with the UK awarding the country its 12 points in the public vote.
On Saturday, a spokesman for Israeli broadcaster Kan said the protesters ‘were blocked by security officials, but Raphael was shaken and upset’. “The delegation was needed to move location for 15 minutes,” he added. “At the same time, a big anti-Israel protest takes place in the centre of Basel. Israeli national security council issued a warning to Israeli civilians in the city to keep a low profile.”
A spokesman for Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said: “At the end of the Israeli performance a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier on to the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”
Austrian winner JJ(Image: AP)
Swiss police confirmed the two people were handed over to them and that they have now been released.
A spokesman for Basel police said: “The organiser handed the two people over to the police. The police checked the two people and then released them. It is now up to the organiser to decide whether to press charges.”
Earlier, there were pro-Palestinian protests near a free concert in the centre of Basel to demonstrate against Israel’s inclusion, with a small group nearby also protesting with Israeli flags. Later the group advocating for Israel to be removed from Eurovision moved across Basel, where they were met by a significant police presence, and tear gas was seen being used.
It comes after Raphael’s rehearsal for Thursday’s second semi-final of the competition was “disrupted” by six people with “oversized flags and whistles” who obstructed her act. SRG SSR, which is organising the event in Basel after Nemo triumphed for Switzerland with The Code in Malmo 2024, said the group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.
Austria won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with JJ’s song Wasted Love.