Israel: Yuval Raphael wins HaKokhav Haba and will represent the country at Eurovision 2025

Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas terrorist attack at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023, has emerged as the winner of HaKokhav Haba and will represent Israel at Eurovision 2025.

Yuval Raphael triumphed over Valerie Hamaty, a Greek Orthodox singer who placed second, and the duo Moran Aharoni & Red Band, who came in third. Yuval’s victory was decisive, as she topped both the jury’s scores and the public vote.

The song that Yuval Raphael will perform at Eurovision will be selected at a later date by a committee established by Israel’s public broadcaster specifically for this purpose.

The 25-year-old singer was attending the Nova Festival with friends when it was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. She survived by hiding beneath bodies on the side of the road.

“Music has been one of the most powerful components in my healing process,” she said during the competition’s final.

Yuval Raphael expressed her desire to perform in Europe and “tell the story of my country, what I went through, what others went through.” She added, “I want to tell the story—not from a place of seeking sympathy. I want it to come from a place where I stand strong in front of it, and in front of the criticism, which I am 100% sure will come from the crowd.”

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix