Israel’s Eurovision Entry ‘October Rain’ Faces Scrutiny After Alleged Reference To Hamas Attacks
Eurovision Song Contest organisers are scrutinising the Israeli submission after leaked lyrics seemingly refer to the 7th October attack by Hamas that triggered the Gaza war.
Israel’s submission, “October Rain”, is a ballad sung by 20-year-old Edan Golan. The country’s representative at the contest was revealed back in February after she won the national selection competition, where she dedicated her performance to the over 130 Israeli hostages sill detained in Gaza, expressing “we won’t be truly OK until everyone returns home.”
According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, the song includes lines such as “There’s no air left to breathe” and “They were all good children, each one of them” – The reference appears to be to individuals seeking refuge in shelters while Hamas gunmen carried out a series of killings and kidnappings at the 7th October music festival and other locations.
The song also mentions “flowers,” which, according to the Israeli outlet, is military terminology for casualties of war. A source at the national broadcaster Kan, which supports the Israeli entry, verified to Reuters that the leaked lyrics were indeed accurate.
The contest presents itself as a non-political event and reserves the right to disqualify participants found to have violated this principle.
Eurovision organiser, European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said it is “in the process of scrutinising the lyrics”, adding that “if a song is deemed unacceptable for any reason, broadcasters are then given the opportunity to submit a new song or new lyrics, as per the rules of the contest.”
Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar posted a statement to X saying that any the disqualification of the Israeli entry would be “scandalous”, adding that October Rain “is a moving song, which expresses the feelings of the people and the country these days, and is not political.”
Israel has emerged victorious four times in the Eurovision.
Meanwhile, several musicians from various countries have urged for Israel’s suspension from the competition, with various petitions circulating for the country’s expulsion.
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