From Terror to Triumph: Nova Festival Survivor Yuval Raphael to Represent Israel at Eurovision 2025Sunday 23/02/2025

In a powerful testament to resilience and healing through art, Yuval Raphael, one of the survivors featured in the upcoming documentary SATURDAY October 7, has been selected to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025.

Many know Yuval’s harrowing story from October 7th, 2023. That morning, she and her friends attended the Nova Music Festival near Re’im, Israel. When Hamas terrorists attacked, Yuval found herself trapped in a roadside bomb shelter with dozens of others. For eight horrifying hours, she had to play dead among the deceased as terrorists repeatedly returned to spray the shelter with gunfire and grenades. 

Only 11 people in that shelter survived.

In the documentary, Yuval shares the devastating details of that day – the initial confusion as rockets filled the sky, the moment they realized terrorists had infiltrated the festival grounds, and the unbearable hours spent in silence, wondering if each breath would be her last. 

Her testimony provides crucial firsthand evidence of the events of October 7th.

What makes her Eurovision selection particularly moving is that prior to competing on HaKokhav HaBa (The Next Star), Yuval had never performed professionally. 

The 24-year-old from Ra’anana was known for being shy about her voice. Yet somehow, in the aftermath of unimaginable trauma, she found the courage not only to speak out about what happened, but to sing.

Yuval will perform a song featuring Hebrew lyrics, to be selected internally and announced in March 2025. The decision to reveal her selection early allows songwriters to create music that resonates with both her voice and her powerful story.

Her journey from surviving one of Israel’s darkest days to representing her country on Europe’s biggest musical stage serves as an inspiration. It reminds us that even in the wake of horror, the human spirit can find its voice – sometimes quite literally.

We look forward to supporting Yuval as she shares her artistry with the world at Eurovision 2025. 

Her presence on that stage will represent not just Israel, but the triumph of hope over hatred, and the enduring power of music to heal. To learn more about the documentary SATURDAY October 7, visit https://saturdayoct7.com or click the button below.

Note: SATURDAY October 7 is currently being selected for film festivals all around the world and will then be released to the public later this year. The documentary features testimonies from seven survivors of the October 7th attacks, including Yuval Raphael, as they seek justice and work to ensure such atrocities never happen again.