Tel Aviv Gets a Surprise Attack—But the Eurovision Showtime Goes On Like a Party
On a night that should have been all about glitter, upbeat anthems, and the spirit of unity, Israel’s official broadcast of the Eurovision semi‑final was hit by a bizarre “hack.” Animated explosions, styled to look like they’re ripping through the city of Tel Aviv, popped up across the web feed, a glitch that Kan, the national broadcaster, quickly blamed on Hamas militants.
What Went Wrong?
- The online feed was hijacked by violent imagery—think cartoonish blasts and a rattling soundtrack that made even the most hardcore music fans blush.
- 360,000 viewers hopped online to see the glitch—though the live TV broadcast on Israeli channels stayed smooth as a jazz sax solo.
- Kan’s tech team responded in record time, regaining control within minutes, and shrugged off the incident with a touch of corporate calm.
“We know that a hacking attempt—apparently by Hamas—was all over our digital stream,” Kan CEO Eldad Koblenz told the Army Radio. “But I’m happy to say that, within a few minutes, we restored everything.”
Who Made It To the Finals?
Despite the digital drama, the Song Contest itself continued unbroken, letting a handful of fine singers through to Saturday’s grand finale:
- Greece – “La La”—a song that hopes to keep history’s scarleters
- Belarus – “Dapeng” with a drumbeat so hypnotic
- Serbia – “Melodija” which topped charts in “Moskva”
- Cyprus – “Oteio” with some juicy vowel harmonies
- Estonia – “Jõõ” that made the crowd sway
- Czech Republic – “Prahlad” with a power‑pop punch
- Australia – “Bradsy” that hit right at the heart of the competition
- Iceland – “Arnarreyki” that screamed just vibe
- San Marino – “Sol” that was a pop‑spark-laden triumph
- Slovenia – “Šker” that used old school beatstack
Not‑So‑Silent Protestors
Pro‑Palestinian activists, now gathering momentum, have urged the world to boycott the Tel Aviv celebration. Their biggest grudge? The entire 2019 Eurovision spectacle—the one where Israel hosted the whole event at heart‑rate-low catalogues. Mellifluous pop stars from the US were called out, especially the mid‑night pop queen Madonna, who swooped into Israel just days before the final on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to play for someone’s political agenda,” Madonna snapped, filing a public record of her defiance against a lone charity. From her own balcony, she shifted the opinions that needed a staple shout.
On the Ground: Real‑Life Tragedy
Meanwhile, a side‑story of heart and tragedy reminded us that the internet isn’t the only place drama unfolds. Kan reported that a truck driver died after a day earlier collision at the Eurovision venue—an unfortunate mishap that left many in teams mourning, as Kan listened to his memory.
“Our thoughts and condolences go to his family,” the broadcaster said. The module, however, vowed to collaborate with national authorities to keep safety top‑priority.
How Many People Watched?
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) didn’t roll out exact numbers for the worldwide audience on a Sunday night. Still, they tipped the scale: last year’s combined viewership racked up a staggering 186 million across the two semis and the final beat‑down.
The next semi‑final is set to drop on Thursday—so keep a sharp eye on your TV set and your seat. Whether you’re in Tel Aviv or Munich, the punchlines of the contest keep rolling.
