October 7th Attack Survivor to Represent Israel at Eurovision
Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7th Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in 2023, has been chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in May. The 24-year-old singer secured her spot after winning Rising Star, Israel’s televised talent competition. She won the competition after performing ABBA’s Dancing Queen, which she dedicated to the victims of the attack.
Following her win, she expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to represent Israel on the Eurovision stage in Basel, Switzerland. “I can't explain how excited and ready I am! Thank you for giving me this huge honour and trusting me to represent my country on the grand Eurovision stage in Switzerland,” she said.
Raphael was attending the Nova festival with friends when Hamas militants launched a cross-border attack from Gaza, killing over 360 festival goers and taking others hostage. She survived by hiding under dead bodies inside a bomb shelter for eight hours. “I’m going to deal with this thing for the rest of my life,” she told Israel’s parliament.
Despite only beginning her singing career last year, Raphael has gained recognition not only for her voice but also for her advocacy. She has spoken about her experience to the UN Human Rights Council and has used music as part of her healing process. “Music is one of the strongest ingredients in my healing process,” she said during the Rising Star final.
Israel and Hamas conflict brings controversy to Eurovision
Yuval’s participation in Eurovision is expected to be met with controversy. Last year’s Israeli contestant, Eden Golan, faced protests and was forced to alter the lyrics and title of her song to comply with Eurovision’s rules on political neutrality. Golan was also confined to her hotel when she wasn’t performing due to threats against the Israeli delegation. Golan placed fifth in the competition.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to overshadow Eurovision. The war began following the October 7th attack, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and led to Israel’s military response in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports over 47,100 Palestinian deaths since the war began. A ceasefire has been agreed upon, with hostage and prisoner exchanges taking place.
Raphael’s official Eurovision song has yet to be revealed but will be announced in the coming weeks by Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan. Switzerland, last year’s winner, will host Eurovision 2025, with 37 countries set to compete.
