Secret Bibas Tribute? Yuval Raphael’s Eurovision Outfit Stuns with Hidden Meaning

Israeli Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael’s performance at the 2025 final in Basel, Switzerland, not only secured a stunning second-place finish but also ignited widespread speculation about a hidden tribute in her outfit to the Bibas family, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Social media buzzed with theories that the raised sleeves of her black overalls, designed by fashion designer Victor “Vivi” Belaish, were intended to evoke the iconic image of the Bibas family; Shiri, Yarden, and their children Ariel and Kfir in Batman-themed pyjamas, widely circulated after their abduction from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Belaish, tasked with styling Israel’s representative, clarified that the effect was unintentional: “The outfit was meticulously planned, including the black wings built specifically for that moment, but the effect created on camera was beyond what I could have imagined, no one could have predicted it.”

The Bibas family’s tragedy resonates deeply in Israel. Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were murdered in captivity, their bodies returned in February 2025, while Yarden, abducted separately, was freed in a recent deal. The image of the family in Batman pyjamas, particularly Ariel’s admiration for the Gotham hero who protects the innocent, became a symbol of their ordeal. Belaish reflected on the serendipitous symbolism: “It’s not a costume, it’s a fashion creation, and the angle that captured the moment? That’s where my precision and intention connected with a higher power. Sometimes the universe does its own styling.”

Raphael’s performance of “New Day Will Rise,” blending English, French, and Hebrew, earned 357 points, propelled by audience support, finishing just behind Austria. Despite protests and a thwarted stage intrusion, her outfit’s perceived tribute amplified its impact. “The effect created on camera was beyond what I could have imagined, no one could have predicted it,” Belaish reiterated, noting, “Sometimes the universe does its own styling.” The moment, lauded on platforms like Ynet, underscored Raphael’s ability to channel Israel’s resilience on a global stage, intertwining art and memory.