Does video show anti-Israel protesters clashing with police at Eurovision? No, video is from 2009

Thousands of people took to the streets of Malmö, Sweden, to protest Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest amid Israel’s war in Gaza.

Police estimates put the number of protesters at 10,000 to 12,000 people, and The Associated Press described the May 9 demonstrations as "peaceful." But one X post claimed to show a violent clash.

"Muslim migrants who were given shelter in Sweden are destroying Swedish tax payers’ property because an Israeli singer took part in Eurovision," the May 9 X post said. The accompanying video showed protestors attacking police vehicles by throwing bricks and rockets. 

The X post received a community note saying the video is from 2009. A reverse image search confirmed that the video was from protests during a March 7, 2009, tennis match in Malmö. 

Anti-Israel demonstrators clashed with police outside of the 2009 Davis Cup tennis match between Israel and Sweden, according to news reports. The violence erupted after a demonstration in downtown Malmö, where speakers condemned Israel’s 2008 three-week offensive in Gaza. 

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Mike Johnson

stated on April 24, 2024 in an interview with CNN

Said Columbia University has told students, “Well, if you’re Jewish, maybe you do want to stay home.”

This year’s Eurovision took place May 7-11 in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city, which has a large Muslim population. Eurovision is an annual singing contest and the world’s largest musical event, in which singers from European countries and some non-European countries, including Israel, perform in live competitions. 

Thousands of demonstrators, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, protested Israeli contestant Eden Golan’s participation in the event. 

Police confirmed that they had used pepper gas and pushed back demonstrators who had moved near the Eurovision arena from their authorized protest area. 

We rate the claim that a video shows Muslim migrants in Sweden destroying property because an Israeli singer took part in Eurovision False.