At Hostages Square, Yuval Raphael Sings ‘New Day Will Rise’ in Tribute to Families

In a deeply moving performance, Israeli Eurovision star Yuval Raphael sang her powerful anthem “New Day Will Rise” at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday night, paying tribute to the families of those still held captive in Gaza.

The event, organized by the Hostages Families Forum, preceded the weekly “Evyatar’s Jam,” a gathering launched in honor of Evyatar David one of the hundreds kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7. Raphael, herself a Nova Festival survivor, shared the stage with renowned Israeli songwriter Keren Peles, who wrote both “New Day Will Rise” and 2024’s Eurovision entry “Hurricane,” performed by Eden Golan.

Seeing familiar faces in the crowd, Raphael was visibly emotional. “I spotted my friends from the bomb shelter,” she recalled, referencing the horrifying day she and others hid from Hamas terrorists. Her performance, already a powerful symbol of hope and defiance at Eurovision 2025, took on even greater meaning before families who still await news of their loved ones.

The performance came as reports confirmed that Israel is pulling back its full hostage negotiation delegation from Qatar, citing a lack of progress in talks with Hamas. The Hostages Families Forum issued a statement expressing “immense pain” over the development, vowing to continue their fight: “We will continue to fight for their return until the last hostage is home.”

For Raphael, the moment was more than a concert. It was a statement. Her presence at Hostages Square and her soaring vocals offered a message not just to Israel, but to the world that even in the darkest nights, a new day will rise.

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