Eurovision 2024: Israel in the Eye of the "Hurricane"

Israel’s participation in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest was marked by controversy. With growing anti-Israel sentiment, some countries threatened to boycott the competition if Israel was not banned from participating. 

Additionally, the organizers took issue with Israel’s entry “October Rain” which referenced Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack and the ongoing war in Gaza. They deemed the lyrics to be politically-charged and, therefore, against the spirit of the contest. While the songwriters refused to submit another song or change the lyrics, Israel’s president Haim Herzog intervened, the lyrics of the song were reworked, and its original title “October Rain” became “Hurricane.”

Watch the music video, explore the changed lyrics,  and start a discussion about Israel in the global arena using this resource.