Hamas attack survivor to represent Israel at Eurovision

Yuval Rafael, a survivor of the October 7, 2023, attacks, has been chosen to represent Israel at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The 24-year-old was attending the Nova music festival when Hamas attackers killed 360 young revelers and took more than 40 others hostage.

The amateur singer, who was at the festival with friends, said she survived by hiding under corpses in a bomb shelter for eight hours. Rafael shared her story while participating in the Israeli talent show "HaKokhav HaBa" (The Next Star), ultimately winning the competition, which means she will have the opportunity to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, in May.

After winning the competition, Rafael stated, "I can't express how excited and ready I am! Thank you for giving me this huge honor and trusting me to represent my country on the Eurovision stage in Switzerland." Rafael, who still has shrapnel from the festival attack in her head and legs, said she only began her professional singing career last year.

In the final of the music competition, she sang "Dancing Queen" by the Swedish band ABBA, dedicating the song to "all the angels" who died at the music festival. She also told the audience on the show that "music is one of the most powerful elements in my healing process." Rafael, who is fluent in English, French, and Hebrew, has actively participated in Israeli advocacy campaigns over the past year, including recounting her survival experience at the UN Human Rights Council.

According to the Eurovision Song Contest website, her official entry song will be revealed in the coming weeks by the Israeli public broadcaster Kan. Last year’s "HaKokhav HaBa" winner, Eden Golan, represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fifth with the song "Hurricane." The show also previously selected 2018 Eurovision winner Netta and 2023 third-place finisher Noa Kirel.

Golan’s entry was met with criticism as it was Israel’s first participation in Eurovision since the recent outbreak of war in the Middle East. Her team was also forced to modify the lyrics and title of Golan’s song – from “October Rain” to “Hurricane” – because it was deemed to violate rules on political neutrality. There were multiple campaigns to prevent Israel from competing, but the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, ruled that Israel could participate.

Golan was booed during rehearsals in Malmö, Sweden, and had to remain in her hotel room when not performing because of threats of harm to the Israeli delegation. Israel and Gaza are currently maintaining a ceasefire after 15 months of fighting that began in October 2023, when Hamas gunmen breached the Israeli Gaza border fence at multiple locations and attacked nearby Israeli communities, Israeli Defense Forces bases, and a music festival.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. The Israeli Defense Forces subsequently launched airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, during which more than 47,100 Palestinians have died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the region.