Yuval Raphael, a Hamas assault survivor, is representing Israel at Eurovision

TEL AVIV, Israel — This week the Eurovision Track Contest is underway in Basel, Switzerland. The world’s largest music competitors contains contestants representing 37 nations — together with Israel, whose presence is sparking protest due to the struggle in Gaza.

Israel’s consultant within the competitors, 24-year-old Yuval Raphael, is about to carry out a pop ballad titled “New Day Will Rise,” a music that displays coping and hope after loss and tragedy, with lyrics together with “Life will go on, everyone cries, don’t cry alone.”

Raphael has a direct private connection to the music, as she is a survivor of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel. On that morning, Raphael was dancing with associates on the Nova music competition, not removed from Israel’s border with Gaza — which was infiltrated by armed Hamas militants, who killed 378 civilians on the social gathering grounds. Raphael and her associates fled to a small shelter close to the dance flooring, however Hamas fighters discovered the shelter, entered, and repeatedly fired at these hiding inside.

Raphael survived by enjoying useless beneath the our bodies of others. Rescuers solely got here after a number of hours, throughout which era lots of the younger individuals along with her contained in the shelter have been killed.

“Only I and 10 others were saved from our 4 square meter shelter,” she later instructed the United Nations Human Rights Council, “a shelter that had become the tomb for almost 40 souls seeking refuge with us. The physical injuries I sustained are healing, but the mental scars will stay with me forever.”

Now, a yr and 7 months later, Raphael is making ready to take the Eurovision stage, having certified this week for Saturday’s grand ultimate. However there’s widespread opposition to Israel’s participation within the contest. Broadcasters from Eire, Spain, Slovenia and Belgium approached the European Broadcasting Union, the group liable for producing Eurovision, and demanded a dialogue earlier this month about Israel’s inclusion.

Eire’s public broadcaster RTÉ introduced it obtained an specific dedication from the EBU for a “wider discussion amongst members in due course.” That is the primary time the EBU has indicated it’s open to discussing the attainable elimination of Israel from the competitors.

Eurovision organizers have been conscious of the stress surrounding Israel’s participation this yr and made some adjustments to the foundations. Till final yr, the competition prohibited the show of flags from nations not taking part within the competitors. This led to protests over the shortcoming to wave Palestinian flags. Now viewers members are allowed to wave any flag that doesn’t violate Swiss legislation.

Nevertheless, the EBU clarified that no political expression of any variety might be permitted onstage. This goals to stop conditions like final yr’s, when a Portuguese singer carried out with nails painted with keffiyeh designs.

Yoav Tzafir, the Israeli delegation’s director, has ready Raphael for the chance that the viewers will boo her throughout her efficiency on Saturday. This occurred final yr, when Eden Golan represented Israel at Eurovision with the music “Hurricane.” Golan was booed closely throughout her efficiency, however nonetheless positioned fifth. She was protected by Israeli intelligence brokers and wore a blonde wig as a disguise in the course of the week of the competition.

Tzafir tells NPR he ready a recording of booing sounds for Raphael, which she performed in her automotive whereas working towards her efficiency. “So she is practicing for two months,” says Tzafir. “I’m not joking, to sing with booing, because if she practices it, it won’t bother her.”

Final Sunday, he says, “We had an incident near the red carpet. Of course there were demonstrations and [Palestinian] flags, which is okay, but one of the protesters made a throat-slitting movement towards our guys — and that’s not okay, of course. We complained to the police, and they are looking for this guy. So when we see the flags, it’s okay, but when we see these movements of cutting our throats, maybe we understand the meaning of the demonstration. They aren’t freedom fighters who demonstrate; they just want us to be dead.”

William Lee Adams, founding father of a well-liked Eurovision weblog, says regardless of the tensions over the Gaza struggle, he believes the ambiance this yr is calmer than final yr.

“Switzerland is famously neutral,” he says, “and on the ground, you do find that people are very willing to discuss political situations, but in a civil manner. My hope is that [Raphael] is not booed — because not only is that uncomfortable for her, but for the other contestants as well who come before her and after her.”

Since Israel started competing in Eurovision in 1973, it has received 4 instances and ranks seventh in wins total. Regardless of the backlash and controversy round its participation this yr, Raphael is at present ranked sixth within the betting odds. Her ultimate placement might be identified solely after the grand ultimate on Saturday night time, when she’s going to compete in opposition to 24 performers from different nations, all vying to host the competition subsequent yr.

NPR’s Daniel Estrin contributed to this report from Tel Aviv.