Israel's Eurovision representative Yuval Rapaeli, who advanced to the finals after the second semi-final, thanked supporters in her first response after qualifying and said: 'Thank you so much for your support and love - it's so deeply felt.' When asked how she handled the tension, Rapaeli replied: 'The moment I got on stage and saw my friends in the audience, my heart simply calmed down.' She was referring to her friends who came to support her, after surviving together with her in a shelter on October 7. 'I told myself to just enjoy it - you're in one of the most amazing experiences of your life, just live in the moment, and that's what I did,' she added.