Eurovision under fire after 'bosses cover Israel booing with fake applause'

The Eurovision Song Contest has been criticised after it reportedly covered the sounds of the audience booing controversial entrant Yuval Raphael's performance for Israel by adding fake applause. It has been said that the competition's bosses drowned out the sounds of booing when she performed New Day Will Rise for a rehearsal on Friday night.

The has been plagued by controversy over Israel's participation in the annual event. Just last week, demanding that the contest chiefs exclude amid the country's ongoing bombardment of Palestine, which is seeing Palestinians starving to death due to a blockade of aid.

Earlier this month, Israel announced plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip and drive hundreds of thousands into the South. Meanwhile, Palestinians are starving to death amid a two-month aid block.

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All food, water, medical aid and shelter supplies into the Strip have been blocked since early March amid growing fears that 65,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition.

Protests have also taken place in the host city of Basel following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has been named a genocide by .

Reports suggest that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with more than a third being under 18.

Fans shared their annoyance at Israel's performances being drowned out or dubbed with cheers in posts shared on /X.

One fan posted: “I have a huge issue with the EBU silencing the booing during Israel’s performance and adding fake cheers to make it sound like there’s a positive reception from the audience.

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“EBU is a public service broadcaster whose purpose is to serve the public, not to silence them.”

Another fan argued: “Why do you mute the audience’s boos and replace them with fake applause effects? Where are your ethical values?”

Eurovision said: "For the Eurovision Song Contest, the host broadcaster SRG SSR is working with the “audio sweetening” method, which is common practice for major international productions. This process helps to harmonise the sound of the transitions between moderations, video clips and the individual acts and to create a consistent soundscape for the TV audience. It is used exclusively for the technical rounding off of the programme. This process is used equally and identically for all acts. The competition and its results are not affected in any way."

Former Eurovision acts have demanded that Israel not be allowed to compete over the country’s “genocide against the in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.”

The letter, published on , was signed by former winners Ireland’s Charlie McGettigan and Portugal’s Fernando Tordo, as well as British singer and French singer La Zarra. It was also signed by two of last year’s competitors Ásdís María and GÅTE.

On Thursday's semi-final, footage picked up boos from the audience when Israel's entry appeared on screen.

The boos were more audible on social media footage of the performance. Despite the protests and calls for Israel to not be allowed in the final, Yuval secured her spot following the public vote.

The have reached out to Eurovision for comment.

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