The Israeli Eurovision entrant, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, has said she has been rehearsing her song with booing sounds in anticipation of backlash this weekend. Yuval Raphael, who last attended a major music event on that fateful day in October 2023,

"To have more experiences, to be happy and to live fully."On Thursday, the 24-year-old will sing her song, New Day Will Rise, at the Eurovision semi-final with shrapnel still in her leg.The rules of the European Broadcasting Union – which is in charge of Eurovision – means no political statements can be made.

Switzerland began hosting the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time since 1989 on Sunday (May 11), amid familiar political criticism over LGBTQ+ rights and the participation of Israel.