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A 24-year-old who survived Hamas’ massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7 2023 has been chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
Yuval Raphael qualified for the event after winning a televised singing competition called Rising Star, which is used to select Israel’s entrant.
“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 stage in Switzerland,” the singer said in a statement on the Eurovision website.
Raphael — who has given interviews about her experience — says she was partying with friends at the Nova desert rave when Hamas militants ambushed the crowd and killed more than 360 people.
The incident marked the deadliest terror attack in Israeli history.
Raphael has said she survived by hiding under the dead bodies of some of the victims inside a nearby bomb shelter.
“Music is one of the strongest ingredients in my healing process,” she told the audience during the Rising Star final.
Originally from Ra’anana, which is about 20km north of Tel Aviv, Raphael began her singing career last year and as a child was influenced by classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Scorpions as well as powerhouse vocalists such as Beyoncé and Celine Dion, according to her Eurovision biography.
Last year’s Eurovision contest sparked controversy and protests among some audiences, due to the decision to allow Israel to participate despite the worsening humanitarian crisis and rising death toll resulting from its military operation in Gaza, aimed at targeting Hamas militants.
Its representative Eden Golan, was also instructed by the event organisers to rename her song, originally titled October Rain.
The change was made to comply with the competition’s rules, which prohibit political statements in performances.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages in their October 7 attack on southern Israel, according to the Israeli government.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza following the attack has killed more than 47,000 people, according to the Gazan health ministry.
On Sunday, the took effect.
The first phase is set to last for six weeks, and include the release of dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
In the days since the ceasefire came into effect, Israel has launched a , killing at least 10 Palestinians.
