Yuval Raphael’s story is one of survival, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of her passion, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
Standing in the pouring rain in Tel Aviv, with no makeup and dressed casually in a baggy jumper, it’s hard to imagine that this unassuming young woman is the same person who made global headlines just a year ago.
Yet, it’s precisely this quiet strength that makes her story so remarkable.
Two years ago, she was lying among the dead at the Nova music festival, forced to pretend to be dead in order to survive the horrific attack that rocked Israel.
Now, she finds herself as a star on one of the world’s most politically charged stages: Eurovision.
This shift from terror to triumph is a tale that Yuval is only now ready to share publicly for the first time.
A Survivor of Tragedy: The October 7 Attack
Yuval’s journey took an unimaginable turn on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian terrorists launched the deadliest assault on Jewish civilians since the Holocaust.
During the attack at the Nova music festival, Yuval was forced into a bomb shelter sprayed with bullets.
Nineteen people inside were killed, and her father’s desperate advice to play dead ultimately saved her life.
Reflecting on that traumatic experience, Yuval says, “I went from one of the worst places on earth to the best.”
Despite the horrors she witnessed, her life changed dramatically in just 18 months.
She found herself standing on a very different stage: Eurovision.
Eurovision: A Hostile Stage
In 2025, Yuval represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, a highly charged competition, at the center of intense political and cultural tensions.
Pro-Palestinian activists campaigned for Israel’s exclusion, and Yuval faced public protests, threats, and hostility that followed her every move.
Surrounded by Mossad security, she performed in an environment filled with intimidation, including crowds making throat-slitting gestures and mobs outside the venues.
Yet, despite the risks and fear, Yuval remained focused on her performance.
“I wasn’t scared. I was immersed in the emotion of the song,” she recalls.
“What I remember most clearly is the crowd—especially after the turquoise carpet, when we were put on that little train.
There were so many protests. Signs with words like ‘slaughter’.
People pointing at me. And then, on stage, of course, the flags.”
The Unseen Cost: Backstage Politics
Despite the political storm raging around her, Yuval found some solace in the kindness of a few contestants.
“There were a few who were genuinely kind to me—like a girl from the Netherlands and a very young male contestant from Norway,” she says.
But that warmth didn’t last long.
After the competition, Yuval was stunned to see some of the contestants who had once been kind unfollow her on social media.
One particular interaction stuck with her.
“Before the final, I’d pass the Norwegian contestant backstage and say, ‘Good luck—you’ll do great.’ I did it three or four times.
He always smiled and thanked me. But after the final, when I came second, he said nothing, and later, he unfollowed me.”
Yuval’s confusion is palpable: “I didn’t understand the point of it.
It makes you wonder whether there’s any value in that kind of hatred at all.”
Public Support Amidst Backlash
Despite the negative attention, Yuval was heartened by the outpouring of support from audiences around the world.
She was particularly moved by the love she received from countries like Spain and the UK. “I want to personally thank the people in the UK,” she says.
“You gave me my highest number of public votes.
That meant more to me than I can explain.”
However, the support was not without its detractors.
Accusations arose that Israel had “cheated” the public vote, a claim Yuval firmly rejects.
“The public vote is open to everyone in every country.
People vote for who they connect with—that’s the entire point of Eurovision,” she states.
“When other countries receive support from neighbors or diaspora communities, it’s called love for the music.
When it’s Israel, it suddenly becomes suspicious.”
Despite efforts by some countries to have Israel banned from Eurovision, Yuval was gratified to see the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reject the claims, confirming there were no “suspicious or irregular voting patterns.”
The Problem with Boycotts and Political Protests
The controversy surrounding Eurovision didn’t end there.
After the competition, Eurovision winner Nemo from Switzerland, who had publicly criticized Israel’s actions, returned their trophy as a protest.
Yuval was deeply troubled by the gesture. “Music is meant to unite people.
When you give back a trophy, you turn something meant to unite into a political statement. I can’t see the point of it.”
She adds, “If you really want to take a stand, do something meaningful.
Giving back a trophy feels like the bare minimum—just enough to make a headline.”
Yuval strongly opposes the idea of boycotts, especially when they are disguised as “justice” or “morality.”
“The boycott campaign is painful to see,” she says.
“Under banners of justice and morality, some countries choose boycotts and exclusion.
It’s not courage—it’s fear of dialogue. It leads nowhere but deeper division.”
The Importance of Dialogue and Understanding
Yuval’s call for empathy is clear: “I genuinely want to ask—how much did you actually research? Where did you look? How deeply did you look?”
She urges people to go beyond the headlines, social media, and political posturing, to truly understand the complexities of the situation. “Meet me. Come and sit with me.
I’m completely open. I’ll sit with anyone who is willing to listen,” she says, her voice filled with sincerity.
The message is simple yet profound: “If you choose to have an opinion—especially one that can incite harm—you have a responsibility to understand both sides fully.
Not through Instagram or TikTok, but through a genuine exploration of the truth.”
Music as a Bridge, Not a Divider
Yuval sees music as a universal language, one that should bring people together rather than divide them.
“Music is meant to build bridges, not walls,” she says firmly.
“By boycotting Israel, countries are undermining the true role of music and culture.
Israel is not dismantling Eurovision.
Those who boycott are doing that themselves.”
Her words reflect a deeper truth about the role of art in society: “There are millions of people worldwide who genuinely love this competition, who come for the music and the emotion, without political filters or hatred.
Denying them that experience is striking at the heart of what Eurovision is meant to be.”
Facing Global Harassment and Finding Strength
Despite the widespread support, Yuval still faces harassment when she travels abroad.
She often receives online threats and insults, some more disturbing than others.
“When it’s an insult, I don’t care. I know it comes from ignorance.
But when people threaten to physically hurt me, that’s frightening,” she admits.
However, despite the ongoing challenges, Yuval remains resolute.
“What I went through is a lesson I’ll work on every day.
If I can take something so horrific and pass it on, then it becomes a blessing.”
A Future of Healing and Music
Yuval’s journey is far from over. Recently, she recorded “Amber Skies,” a deeply personal track for an HBO series about October 7, which she hopes will help people understand the gravity of the attack.
“What matters is that it will be shown worldwide,” she says.
In addition to her music, Yuval continues to work on new material, including songs in English.
“You learn about fear and evil, but you also learn how beautiful life is. How fragile time is.
And how important it is to make every moment count,” she reflects, her voice calm and determined.
As she moves forward, Yuval is focused on healing and growth, knowing that her journey is one of constant learning.
“One of the biggest realizations I’ve had is accepting that I’ll be in recovery forever—and that’s okay.
You can’t change what you’ve been through, but you can change your mindset.
This world is an opportunity to better your soul.”
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