Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest, voicing support for ‘the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment’.
Sánchez, known for being one of the most vocal European leaders criticising Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, made the remarks following widespread protests against Israel’s involvement in Saturday’s Eurovision event held in Switzerland. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez: ‘I have serious doubts Israel is complying with international law’.
Drawing a parallel with Russia – barred from competing in the Eurovision after invading Ukraine in 2022 – Sánchez said during an event in Madrid: ‘Spain’s commitment to human rights must be constant and consistent, including in Europe. If Russia was required not to participate in Eurovision after the invasion of Ukraine, neither should Israel. We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture.’
Prior to Saturday’s Eurovision finale, Spanish national broadcaster RTVE broadcast a message in solidarity with Palestinians, despite having been cautioned by Eurovision organisers – the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – to avoid references to the situation in Gaza. ALSO READ: Spain’s national broadcaster defies Eurovision organisers, and airs support message for Palestine.
RTVE had also sent a letter to the EBU in April, calling for a ‘debate’ about Israel’s inclusion in the contest, pointing to public unease over the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where conditions have sparked warnings of imminent famine. ALSO READ: Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE calls for ‘debate’ over Israel’s participation in Eurovision.
Reaffirming his stance on Monday, Sánchez extended ‘a supportive embrace for the people of Ukraine and the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment’.
Speaking at an Arab League summit in Baghdad on Saturday, he also urged the global community to apply increased pressure on Israel to halt what he described as a ‘massacre in Gaza’.
Since 2 March, Israel has imposed a full blockade on humanitarian aid entering the occupied Palestinian territory.
Sánchez also announced Spain’s intention to bring a proposal before the United Nations General Assembly, requesting that the International Court of Justice assess whether Israel is meeting its legal obligations to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza. ALSO READ: Spain to present resolution at UN General Assembly to ‘stop killing’ in Gaza.
The war began with Hamas’s large-scale attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas also abducted 251 people during the assault; 57 of them remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military reporting that 34 of those hostages are presumed dead.
In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has claimed 53,339 lives in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-governed enclave. The United Nations deems the ministry’s casualty figures credible.
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El compromiso de España con los derechos humanos debe ser constante y coherente. También desde Europa.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 19, 2025
Si se le exigió a Rusia no participar en Eurovisión tras la invasión de Ucrania, tampoco debería hacerlo Israel.
No podemos permitir dobles estándares, tampoco en la cultura. pic.twitter.com/1G6g2bIE5E
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