The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is already well underway, with acts from across the continent battling it out in Basel to be crowned champion.
But much like last year’s event, this year’s is already mired in controversy, with Israel set to take part in the second semi-final on Thursday.
Yuval Raphael, 24, is set to represent her home nation with her song New Day Will Rise at this year’s contest, after surviving the horrific October 7 attacks just 18 months ago.
Her predecessor, Eden Golan, was subjected to the most toxic campaign of abuse and intimidation in the competition’s history, and was loudly booed by the crowd during her two performances at last year’s contest in Malmo.
But given her own ordeal in Israel’s conflict with Palestine, Yuval is unfazed by the backlash, and has even revealed she’s ‘practised being booed’ ahead of her first performance.
So ahead of Yuval’s performance at this year’s Eurovision, here’s everything you need to know about the Israeli entry…
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is well underway, with Yuval Raphael set to represent Israel at this year’s competition, despite huge backlash around the country’s inclusion
Who is Yuval Raphael?
Before being chosen to represent her home nation at this year’s Eurovision, Yuval survived the horrific October 7 attacks.
The singer had been attending the Nova music festival with friends when Hamas stormed the venue amid the biggest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.
As she cowered in a bomb shelter, on the phone to her distraught father, terrorists entered and shot everyone inside.
Over the next eight hours, they came back 19 times to spray the shelter with bullets or throw in grenades.
Throughout, Yuval followed the last advice her father gave before the phone cut out: ‘Play dead.’
Surrounded by severed limbs, between barrages she dragged bloodied, lifeless bodies over herself for protection.
The agonising weight of the corpses pressed down on her broken leg – shattered in the first attack – as she made peace with joining them.
Yuval Raphael, 24, is set to represent her home nation with her song New Day Will Rise at this year’s contest, after surviving the horrific October 7 attacks just 18 months ago
Finally, though, help arrived. When it did, it took several men to lift the bodies from Yuval to free her.
She discovered she was one of just 11 who had survived, crammed in a tiny, four-metre squared concrete bunker filled with some 50 people.
As she would later remark, it was a shelter ‘that had become the tomb for almost 40 souls seeking refuge with us’.
For anyone who had endured such unimaginable hell at a music event, they would be forgiven for not wanting to attend another gig ever again.
Yet Raphael, who still has shrapnel lodged in her head and leg from the horror on October 7, is not only returning to a music venue, but performing – and on one of the most hostile stages in the world for an Israeli.
Her singing career only started after the attack, when she took part in the TV talent show HaKokhav HaBa, and went onto win the contest.
Yuval has also credited classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin as her inspiration, as well as singers such as Beyonce and Celine Dion.
Surrounded by severed limbs, between barrages she dragged bloodied, lifeless bodies over herself for protection. Pictured: Yuval outside the shelter
What has Yuval Raphael said about representing Israel at Eurovision 2025?
Despite the huge storm around Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision, Yuval is unfazed, telling : ‘I’ve been given another chance at life, so it’s my duty to not be afraid – and to spread the light.
‘I see it as an honour and a responsibility. I love my country, I love the Israeli people.’
‘I also have the most amazing team behind me with all the tools to deal with this situation.
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‘I am focused on the song and have been working night and day on it for the last four months, practicing to be the best I can to bring honour to my country.’
After what happened at last year’s competition, however, Yuval is under no illusion as to what awaits her.
Her predecessor, Eden Golan, was subjected to the most toxic campaign of abuse and intimidation in the competition’s history.
Shunned by fellow competitors who tried to humiliate her at press conferences, she was nearly disqualified following a row over her song lyrics, and faced tens of thousands – including Greta Thunberg – protesting her right to be there.
Eden received so many death threats the head of Israeli intelligence service Shin Bet personally travelled to Malmo, Sweden, to help oversee her protection.
Locked down in her hotel room between auditions – each marked by relentless booing – simply performing was a victory in itself.
But, on the night, she overcame deafening screams from the hostile audience to claim the second most votes from the public – thanks in part to 12 points from the UK – and came fifth overall when the jury’s verdict was taken in.
Given the hostile response to Eden last year, Yuval said she is ‘expecting’ to be booed by the crowd, telling the BBC: ‘tBut we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.’
She also shared that she has rehearsed her performance with background noise so she is prepared to any distractions from the audience.
The singer added: ‘I really think I have a lot of weight on my shoulders, I have a very big responsibility. I have a lot of people at home that are expecting something.’
Yuval hopes that Eurovision rediscovers the meaning of its own slogan, ‘United by Music’ – a message that has felt all but forgotten this past year.
‘I think my song has such a beautiful message. There is a phrase that says ‘Everyone cries, don’t cry alone’. Let’s all be united together – and spread the love.’
But given her own ordeal in Israel’s conflict with Palestine , Yuval is unfazed by the backlash, and has even revealed she’s ‘practised being booed’ ahead of her first performance
Her predecessor, Eden Golan, was subjected to the most toxic campaign of abuse and intimidation in the competition’s history (pictured on stage in 2024)
When is the Eurovision 2025 final?
The second semi-final, when Yuval will first perform, is set to take place on Thursday May 15, with the hope Israel is voted as one of the 10 countries who will qualfy for the grand final.
The final, hosted by Swiss comedian Hazel Brugger, former Eurovision entrant Sandra Studer and Swiss model Michelle Hunziker, will take place at Basel’s St. Jakobshalle arena on Saturday May 17.
Graham Norton will once again be on hand to provide commentary of the final for the UK, with Rylan Clark and Scott Mills commentating the final for BBC Radio 2.
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has been chosen as the UK spokesperson, announcing who the British juries have awarded their coveted ‘deux points’ to.
In total, 26 acts will compete to be crowned champion, with these including the Big Five – France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the UK – who automatically land a spot in the grand final.
The UK will be represented by girlband Remember Monday, and their song What The Hell Just Happened?, but Eurovision stalwarts Sweden are currently tipped by the bookies as favourite to win.
Just last week the European Broadcasting Union overturned a ban on Palestinian flags at this year’s competition – and they are expected to be out in numbers come May 17.
Just last week the European Broadcasting Union overturned a ban on Palestinian flags at this year’s competition – and they are expected to be out in numbers come May 17.
In recent days, too, Iceland’s national broadcaster joined those of Spain and Slovenia in objecting to Israel’s participation.
This week the Swiss fencing team caused outrage by turning their back on the gold-winning Israeli team at the European Championships.
And last year their winning Eurovision act, Nemo, boycotted the rehearsal of the flag parade in protest of Eden being allowed to compete.