Israel's representative at Eurovision has stated that he was surprised by the protests that interrupted his performance in the semi-final.
Several members of the public - including a protester with the words "Free Palestine" written on his chest - left the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Tuesday night after chants of "stop the genocide" were heard during the song.
"I was aware," Israeli singer Noam Bettan told the BBC. "I heard the whistles and everything, and there was a moment of like a 'wow' effect, you know? A little shock."
Israel's presence at Eurovision has been controversial since the start of the Gaza war in 2023.
Public broadcasters from five countries – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – are boycotting this year's edition, making it the smallest Eurovision since 2003.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ said Ireland's participation was "unacceptable given the terrible loss of life in Gaza", while Dutch broadcaster Avrotros stated that the Netherlands' participation was "incompatible with the public values that are fundamental to us".
Israeli broadcaster Kan has described the absences as a "cultural boycott" that "harms freedom of creation and freedom of expression."
Bettan, 28, said he hopes the five broadcasters will return in the future.
"It's too bad for them," he said. "They're missing out on this incredible experience. I have high hopes that next year they can sing and spread their light."
The criticisms of the five broadcasters have also been supported by the human rights organization Amnesty International, which stated that the European Broadcasting Union "betrayed humanity" by allowing Israel to participate.
The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza, during which the Hamas-run Health Ministry said more than 72,740 people had been killed. The United Nations considers these figures generally credible.
Israel has vehemently denied accusations by Amnesty International and other organizations that it has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Despite being accompanied by armed guards, Bettan said he had received a "warm welcome" in Vienna.
After the initial shock of the boos during the semi-final, he said he focused on the people who supported him.
"I looked for the flags of people who love me and want me to give my best, and that kept me going," he said.
It is not the first time that Israel's performance has been accompanied by protests.
Singer Eden Golan faced boos and boos in Sweden two years ago, while last year in Switzerland two protesters unsuccessfully attempted to enter the stage and throw paint during Yuval Raphael's performance.
Like his predecessors, Bettan said he had practiced being booed during preparations for Eurovision, but admitted that the reality was different.
"You can't put 13,000 people in a rehearsal room and make them boo. I had some people from the team trying to make it difficult for me to train for this moment - but you can't really prepare for it," he said.
Austrian broadcaster ORF, which is organizing this year's Eurovision, has said it will not ban Palestinian flags or censor booing from the audience. The expulsion of several people from the hall on Tuesday was linked to more concerning behavior.
Despite the protests, Bettan gave a confident performance and said that his strength also came from the lyrics of the song.
“There's a moment at the end of the song when I sing in Hebrew and it says, 'There's always someone listening,'” he said.
“And in that moment I felt like I was singing with all my heart for my people.”
He added that, although this may sound like a cliché, he experienced that moment with emotion and felt "very proud to be there and very proud to represent his country."
Bettan has also been embroiled in a minor controversy after asking fans on social media to use all 10 votes to support Israel in Saturday's final.
The organizers responded by saying that the post was "not in the spirit of the competition" and requested that it be deleted.
They also issued an official warning to Israeli broadcaster Kan, which organizes the country's participation in Eurovision.
This followed an Israeli government-backed campaign last year to boost votes for Yuval Raphael, which some countries claimed influenced the final result.
Raphael won the public vote in 2025 and finished second overall after the jury votes. The European Broadcasting Union stated that it had found no evidence of irregularities.
Bettan told the BBC that he had been unaware of rules discouraging candidates from seeking multiple votes and that he had "deleted" the post.
Asked if Israel could be disqualified for other violations, Eurovision director Martin Green told BBC News:
"We are far from such a situation. If there is a problem, we start a conversation and try to solve it amicably, without resorting to sanctions."
After qualifying from Tuesday's semi-final, Bettan will perform again in Saturday's grand final, where his song is expected to rank among the top five.
Meanwhile, other protests are planned outside the Eurovision arena and debates over Israel's presence are expected to continue, but the singer said he wants to make the most of this opportunity.
"There's a lot of hate out there. I'm not seeing that - I'm seeing the bright side," he said.
“I don't even feel like I'm in a competition. There are so many talented artists here and I'm here to unite. I'm here to spread my light, my color into this world.”
