Israel's Yuval Raphael Qualifies for Eurovision Final Amid Protests in Basel

Israel's Yuval Raphael has qualified for the Eurovision 2025 grand final in Basel despite protests and controversy surrounding Israel's ongoing conflict with Gaza. During her semi-final performance of "New Day Will Rise," which reflects themes of grief and survival, protesters briefly disrupted the rehearsal by displaying oversized Palestinian flags, but the performance proceeded without further disturbance. Raphael, a survivor of the Nova massacre, received strong audience support and is considered among the favorites to win. Her stripped-back, intimate performance contrasted with more elaborate acts, earning applause from both the live audience and media. While some Eurovision fans expressed disapproval and accused the voting of being rigged due to political tensions, others celebrated her qualification. Alongside Israel, countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, and others also progressed to the final, joining the automatically qualified "Big Five" and host Switzerland.