Israel’s Eurovision contestant Eden Golan has advanced to the finals after a heartrending performance of “Hurricane” on Thursday night.
As per the BBC, the 20-year-old singer had already encountered a hostile response during dress rehearsals the previous night. However, speaking after the semi-final, Golan expressed that she was “overwhelmed with emotions,” adding that it was an “honor to be here on stage, representing Israel with pride.”
Prior to Golan’s victory, thousands of anti-Israel protesters had gathered in the streets outside the venue in Malmö, where the contest is being held. Smoke canisters in the colors of the Palestinian flag were set off in Malmö’s central square on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by chants of “Free Palestine.” A smaller demonstration in support of Israel also took place.
While the protests were largely peaceful, the tense atmosphere has led to heightened security measures. Armed police have been stationed outside the hotel where Golan is staying, and she has been confined to her room when not on stage for safety reasons, according to the report.
Watch below as Golan proudly sings “Hurricane,” a revamped version of “October Rain,” the song initially submitted for the competition. The original was disqualified due to its lyrics, which were considered too political for alluding to the October 7 Hamas attacks.
