Yuval Raphael, who survived the 7 October attack in 2023, has been chosen to represent Israel at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Raphael, 24, was at the Nova musical festival when Hamas attackers killed 360 young partygoers and took 40 more hostage.

A survivor of the Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, is to represent Israel at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The 24-year-old Yuval Raphael beat other candidates in the final of the television show "The Next Star" on Wednesday evening,

Israel has confirmed that it will maintain control over the Rafah border crossing, the key passage between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday that Israel will remain in control of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt throughout the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.