Yuval Raphael, who survived a Hamas attack in 2023, has been chosen to represent Israel at this year's Eurovision.
The 24-year-old won the reality TV contest HaKokhav Haba, or The Next Star, on Wednesday, earning her the right to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, this May.
Raphael performed a ballad version of ABBA's Dancing Queen during the qualifying competition, dedicating the song to "all the angels" who were killed during the Nova music festival.
Her selection follows controversy at last year's Eurovision, when Israeli competitor Eden Golan was forced to change her song after organisers ruled its lyrics referenced the 7 October 7, 2023 attack and violated political neutrality rules.
In the early hours of 7 October, 2023, Hamas fighters attacked the approximately 3,000 attendees of the open-air festival, which was taking place two kilometres from Gaza.
The militants killed more than 370 people, according to official Israeli data, and took 44 others hostage.
In her testimony before the United Nations Human Rights Council in April 2024, Raphael recounted how when rocket fire began, a prelude to the militant attack, she and more than 40 other festival-goers took refuge in a small bomb shelter.
Soon, Hamas militants began firing and throwing grenades inside the shelter, she said.
"Suddenly my world crumbled... trapped and fearing for my life, I witnessed unspeakable horrors," she said.
She said that only 10 others survived alongside her in the shelter, where they spent eight hours hiding.
"The physical injuries I sustained are healing, but the mental scars will stay with me forever."
Speaking to Israeli public radio on Thursday, Raphael again recounted her ordeal, saying: "Music is so important to me that it accompanied me even in that moment."
Speaking of her success, she said she was lucky "to be here, and at the same time, this song is for all those angels who don't have the chance to be here... that's why I want to represent us, that's why I want to be there".
Israel's participation in the 2024 edition of Eurovision held in Sweden was marked by protests against the war in Gaza.
Gaza health authorities say at least 47,000 people have been killed in the 15-month conflict.
Golan, after being heckled during her performance at the Eurovision last year, finished fifth.
Raphael told Kan radio she expected to face a hostile environment at the upcoming song competition but that it would not derail her.
"I don't expect to arrive in a place where everyone will help and love me," she said, adding that she would have support from a team including a dedicated psychologist.
Source: AFP
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