Yuval Raphael Reflects on Eurovision Win
- BASEL, Switzerland – Yuval Raphael, representing israel, finished second at the Eurovision Song Contest in basel on Saturday.
- “I’m so sorry, I don’t know how to respond to the situation; I feel like we’ve won life,” Raphael told KAN 11,
- “I can’t explain to you the level of my excitement," Raphael said.
Yuval Raphael Places Second at Eurovision, Calls for Hostage Release
Table of Contents
- Yuval Raphael Places Second at Eurovision, Calls for Hostage Release
- Yuval Raphael at Eurovision: A Q&A
- Who is Yuval Raphael?
- What was Yuval Raphael’s placement at Eurovision?
- Where was the Eurovision Song Contest held?
- What was Yuval Raphael’s reaction to placing second?
- What did Yuval Raphael say about the hostages?
- What were some of the key themes in Yuval Raphael’s statements?
- How did Raphael describe her feelings after the competition?
- What message did Raphael focus on delivering during her performance?
- Did Raphael draw strength from anyone? if so, from whom?
- What is the significance of the Nova festival attack in relation to Yuval Raphael?
- How did Raphael express her eagerness to return to Israel?
- What is “Am Israel Chai”?
- Key Takeaways at a Glance
BASEL, Switzerland – Yuval Raphael, representing israel, finished second at the Eurovision Song Contest in basel on Saturday. Following her performance, Raphael told Israeli media that true victory would only come with the return of hostages held in Gaza.
‘We’ve Won Life’: Raphael’s Emotional Response
“I’m so sorry, I don’t know how to respond to the situation; I feel like we’ve won life,” Raphael told KAN 11, Israel‘s public broadcaster. She expressed overwhelming excitement and dedicated her performance to the people of Israel, friends, those lost, and the hostages.
“I can’t explain to you the level of my excitement,” Raphael said. “The entire song 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.”
No True Victory Without Hostages
While grateful for the support and feeling victorious,Raphael emphasized that her joy was incomplete. “I’m grateful for the situation and our people every day of my life, to everyone who voted and gave me the feeling of victory. I’ve never felt like a winner like this,” she said. “We won’t have a real victory untill our hostages are home, Amen, Amen, Amen.”
‘A New Day Will Rise’
Raphael, a 24-year-old survivor of the Nova festival attack, believes the song’s message of hope resonated with the audience. She stated that she focused on delivering a message rather than the scale of the broadcast.
“Honestly, I wasn’t focused on the fact that it was being broadcast to millions, as much as I focused on the fact that there was a message being delivered to so many people—and that’s what I concentrated on,” Raphael said. “I didn’t focus on the number of viewers, but on the fact that I had something to say, and I wanted to scream it out loud.”
Raphael added, “Am Israel Chai, and a new day really will rise for us. It always will, no matter what happens. That’s what defines our people more than anything—no matter what we go through, we come back to life again and again.”
Yuval Raphael in an interview after finishing second: “There was no real victory as when the kidnappers were at home” | Watch @Amithara22 pic.twitter.com/4HC19jW0fr
— Hear News (@kann_news) May 17, 2025
Looking Forward
Raphael expressed eagerness to return to Israel and reunite with loved ones. “I can’t wait to get on a plane and step onto Israeli soil,” she said. “I so badly wanted to hug my friends whom I saw from across the hall. I really just want to hug my friends—wow.”
She also noted the strength she drew from having family members of Nova festival victims, as well as friends, in the audience.
“I’m going to run to my friends, to hug them for giving me so much strength. I can’t even describe how much strength it gave me to know they were in the audience—and also Hila Abir, the sister of Lotan Abir z”l, who was murdered in the bomb shelter and whom I never got to meet,” Raphael said.
“A huge thank you to everyone who supported me, to everyone who gave me the privilege to be in this position and trusted me to be their voice.”
Yuval Raphael at Eurovision: A Q&A
Who is Yuval Raphael?
Yuval Raphael is an Israeli singer. She represented Israel at teh Eurovision Song Contest.
What was Yuval Raphael’s placement at Eurovision?
Yuval Raphael finished second at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Where was the Eurovision Song Contest held?
The Eurovision song Contest took place in Basel, Switzerland.
What was Yuval Raphael’s reaction to placing second?
Yuval Raphael expressed mixed emotions following her second-place finish. While grateful for the support and feeling victorious,she emphasized that her joy was incomplete until the hostages held in Gaza were returned.she dedicated her performance to the people of Israel, her friends, those lost, and the hostages.
What did Yuval Raphael say about the hostages?
yuval Raphael stated that true victory would only come with the return of the hostages held in Gaza. She repeatedly mentioned the hostages and thier importance throughout her post-contest interviews.
What were some of the key themes in Yuval Raphael’s statements?
The key themes in Raphael’s statements included:
Dedication: Her performance was dedicated to the people of Israel, friends, those lost, and the hostages.
Hope: She believes in a message of hope and a “new day” for the people of Israel.
Resilience: She emphasized the ability of her people to persevere and overcome challenges.
incomplete Victory: Raphael noted that real victory would only be achieved when the hostages are home.
How did Raphael describe her feelings after the competition?
Raphael shared a range of emotions,including excitement and gratitude. She said, “I’m so sorry, I don’t know how to respond to the situation; I feel like we’ve won life.” She also mentioned she never felt like a winner like this.
What message did Raphael focus on delivering during her performance?
Raphael focused on delivering a message of hope to the people of Israel and the world. She prioritized the message over the scale of the broadcast.
Did Raphael draw strength from anyone? if so, from whom?
Yes, Raphael drew strength from:
Family members of Nova festival victims
Friends in the audience.
What is the significance of the Nova festival attack in relation to Yuval Raphael?
Yuval Raphael is a survivor of the Nova festival attack. This personal experience likely influenced her performance and the message she wanted to convey.
How did Raphael express her eagerness to return to Israel?
Raphael expressed eagerness to return to Israel and reunite with loved ones. she said, “I can’t wait to get on a plane and step onto Israeli soil.” She also mentioned she wanted to hug her friends.
What is “Am Israel Chai”?
“Am Israel Chai” (עם ישראל חי) is a Hebrew phrase that translates to “The people of israel live.” it is an expression of Jewish national pride and resilience.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
Here’s a brief summary of the key points from Yuval Raphael’s experience at Eurovision:
| Feature | Details |
| ————————— | ———————————————————————————————————————————– |
| Placement | second Place |
| Country Represented | Israel |
| Location | Basel,Switzerland |
| Key Message | Priority towards bringing home the hostages held in Gaza. |
| Emotional Response | Mixed feelings; excitement, gratitude, and the understanding that the victory felt incomplete until hostages are returned home. |
| Personal Connection | Survivor of the Nova festival attack. |
| Hopes | Emphasized the importance of hope for the people of Israel. |