Spain's Sanchez Calls for Israel's Removal from Eurovision Song Contest

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel to be removed from the Eurovision Song Contest.

A vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, Sanchez drew a comparison to Russia’s exclusion from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He argued that Israel should face the same treatment, stating, "Therefore Israel shouldn't either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture," during an event in Madrid on Monday, May 19, 2025.

"Spain's commitment to international law and human rights must be constant and must be coherent. Europe's should be too," added the leader of the Socialists, as reported by Middle East Eye.

Ahead of the Eurovision final last Saturday, Spain's public television station RTVE aired a message of support for Palestine. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, had previously warned Spain to refrain from broadcasting any messages related to Gaza.

Sanchez, who recognized Palestine as a state last year, also expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and Palestine, both of whom have endured injustice due to war and bombings.

He confirmed that Spain would propose to the UN General Assembly a request for the International Court of Justice to assess Israel's compliance with international obligations concerning access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, which has been under an aid blockade by Israel since March.

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