Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Israel’s Hamas Massacre Survivor 2nd In Eurovision Song Contest
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.
Latest News from Worthy News
President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with renewed military strikes if Tehran fails to restrain Hezbollah in Lebanon or keep the Strait of Hormuz open, even as Vice President J.D. Vance opened high-stakes talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will maintain its security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary, even as U.S.-Iran talks opened in Switzerland and appeared to stall after fresh threats from President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned his nation that Russian forces may be preparing a major new offensive and urged Ukrainians to remain vigilant as fresh attacks across the country killed at least seven people, including civilians living near the front lines.
With the Middle East in turmoil, U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived Sunday in the peaceful Alpine nation of Switzerland to help hammer out a deal aimed at ending the U.S.-Israel war with Iran that has engulfed much of the region and sent shockwaves through the global economy.
Hungary’s president has warned that recently elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar is plotting a takeover of state institutions that would give him more power than his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
A diplomatic dispute between Poland and Ukraine intensified Sunday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he was returning Poland’s highest state honor following a decision by Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip him of the award.
A Dutch community remained in shock Saturday after a 13-year-old girl was detained following the discovery of her parents’ bodies in their home in the northern Netherlands.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com