'This is unbelievable' - Bulgaria's Dara celebrates after winning Eurovision Song Contest

 Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time on Sunday (May 17) in a final overshadowed by five countries' boycott over Gaza, claiming a dramatic victory despite another big public vote for Israel that again secured it second place.

The garish and usually good-natured competition involving pop acts from countries across Europe and beyond, now in its 70th year, was plunged into crisis by a dispute over Israel's military offensive in Gaza, a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

The public broadcasters of heavyweights Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as Iceland and Slovenia, chose not to take part in protest at Israel's participation.

Israel has alleged a global smear campaign against it. Its performance at the final was not, however, marred by any obvious protests, unlike Tuesday's semi-final.

"This is unbelievable. I don't even know what's going on right now," Bulgaria's entrant Dara told a press conference after winning with her thumping, crowd-pleasing dance track "Bangaranga" that avoided politics altogether.

The song touches on themes of empowerment and surrendering to the night. It also left many puzzled as to its meaning.

Israel's effort, trilingual love song "Michelle," stirred less controversy than its entry last year, which was sung by a survivor of the October 7 attack.

Production: Christine Uyanik, Ayhan Uyanik, Erol Dogrudogan, Anna Dittrich, Edward Baran/Reuters