By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BASEL/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – A survivor of the Hamas massacre in Israel has defied the odds by racing to the top in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Yuval Raphael, 24, took second place in the world’s largest live-televised song competition, overcoming pro-Palestine protesters and calls to ban Israel from the event.
Israeli reporters in Basel said security thwarted two separate attempts by demonstrators to rush the stage during Raphael’s performance.
The incidents were not seen on the live television broadcast, and the Israeli singer did not appear to be aware of them in real time, but previously, booing could be heard.
“I can’t explain to you the level of my excitement,” she said after her stunning performance during the event in Basel, Switzerland.
It was a far cry from October 7, 2023, when she attended the Nova Sukkot Gathering music festival in Re’im in southern Israel, which was then suddenly attacked by Hamas gunmen.
DEATH SHELTER
She said she was inside “a Death Shelter” near kibbutz Be’eri with 50 other people, while sustaining shrapnel injuries from grenades thrown into the shelter.
Raphael was only one of 11 survivors, having hidden under dead bodies for eight hours. Some 1,200 people were killed and hundreds kidnapped by Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies.
“The entire song [at Eurovision] was dedicated to the people, to Israel, to my friends, to those in my heart, to those who are no longer with us today, to the hostages who are still there,” Raphael stressed early Sunday after her second-place finish.
In Israel, commentators were overwhelmed with joy. “Raphael’s song, ‘New Day Will Rise,’ defied the odds, rising to near the top of the standings following the viewer voting around the world,” wrote The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
She was just behind classically trained countertenor JJ of Austria, who performed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with “Wasted Love.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated Rafael on her “great achievement” at the Eurovision contest, and thanked her for the “great pride” she brought to the State of Israel.
AMAZING YUVAL
“Dear and amazing Yuval [Rafael], how wonderful. You truly succeeded. First of all, your performance was tremendous. I was so moved,” he said in a statement.
“You are truly a daughter of Israel, breaking through the world’s highest ceiling- in the world-it’s simply incredible. Just think where you were 590 days ago,” the president added, referring to the day Hamas attacks changed her life.
“Your cry of ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ (’Long live the people of Israel’) touched our hearts. Thank you for representing the State of Israel with such honor,” he stressed.
Rafael responded, “I will always remember that I was given the chance to be the voice of these people. I want to thank you for the support you gave me—it strengthened me so much.”
She stressed: “I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until everyone is home: our only and greatest victory is when all the hostages return home.”
An estimated 160 million people from Europe and beyond were believed to have watched her as part of the show, which featured 37 countries.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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