Spain’s Sanchez Urges Israel’s Exclusion from Global Cultural Events over Gaza War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, May 17, 2025. Hadi Mizban/Pool via REUTERS

Madrid, May 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called for Israel to be barred from international cultural events, including the Eurovision Song Contest, in response to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, drawing a direct comparison with the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Speaking at a cultural conference in Madrid, Sanchez said Israel’s participation in global competitions amid the war in Gaza amounted to a double standard, and urged cultural institutions to adopt a consistent stance in the face of conflict.

“We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture,” Sanchez said. “No one was shocked when Russia was excluded from Eurovision after invading Ukraine. Israel should not be treated differently.”

Sanchez, a Socialist leader and vocal critic of Israeli policy in the occupied Palestinian territories, also encouraged artists and cultural figures to defend democratic values, peace, and human rights. He criticized what he described as a “bland, silent, equidistant cultural sector” that avoids confronting injustice.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Eurovision Song Contest, which emphasizes political neutrality, held its finals this month in Basel, Switzerland. Austria’s JJ took the overall victory, while Israel’s Yuval Raphael won the televote amid growing criticism from pro-Palestinian groups who had urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel over its military actions in Gaza.

The war, which began after a cross-border assault by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, has led to the deaths of more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The initial Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel.

Israel has said its campaign in Gaza is aimed at eliminating Hamas’ military and governing capacity. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would proceed with plans to assert full control over the Gaza Strip, despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire.

The cultural controversy follows broader political tensions. In May 2024, Spain, alongside Ireland and Norway, officially recognized a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel condemned the move, accusing the European countries of emboldening Hamas.

Sanchez’s latest remarks are expected to deepen the divide between Madrid and Tel Aviv, while adding further pressure on European cultural bodies to clarify their positions amid growing public scrutiny.