In a remarkable story of resilience and healing, Yuval Raphael, a 24-year-old survivor of the horrific Hamas attack on the Nova music festival in October 2023, has been chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. Raphael secured her spot on Thursday's "Rising Star" competition aired on Israel's Keshet channel 12.

Raphael's journey to Eurovision is deeply intertwined with the trauma she endured. After fleeing the festival under attack, she and a group of others sought refuge in a roadside bomb shelter. There, they were subjected to a horrifying ordeal, hiding under the bodies of the deceased for eight hours as Hamas terrorists repeatedly returned to fire upon those trapped inside, even resorting to grenades. This harrowing experience mirrors the suffering of many others that day, including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Music became a lifeline for Raphael in the aftermath of the attack. Despite having no prior singing experience, she powerfully performed "The Writings on the Wall" and a touching rendition of ABBA's "Dancing Queen," dedicating it to the victims of the tragedy. She described music as a cornerstone of her healing process.

Raphael has previously spoken out about her experience at the United Nations Human Rights Council, seeking to shed light on the suffering of innocent civilians. Looking ahead to Eurovision, she expressed her desire to share her story and the story of her country, not to elicit pity, but to demonstrate strength and resilience in the face of potential adversity. She acknowledged the possibility of negative reactions from the audience, referencing past instances of anti-Israeli sentiment at international events, particularly following the 2024 competition.

Her participation follows a year in which the previous Israeli contestant, Eden Golan, faced protests and security concerns, even having to rename her song due to perceived political connotations. Despite calls to ban Israel from the competition, the European Broadcasting Union has maintained Eurovision's non-political nature, allowing Raphael's powerful story of survival and hope to take center stage.