Spanish PM Calls Israel To Be Expelled From International Cultural Events Due To Gaza War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. (Wikimedia Commons/Fernando Calvo Rollan)

JAKARTA - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called for Israel to be expelled from international cultural events such as the Eurovision song contest due to his military campaign in Gaza, just like Russia was banned after its invasion of Ukraine.

"We cannot allow double standards, even in culture," PM Sanchez said at a conference in Madrid.

"I'm sure no one was surprised three years ago when Russia was asked to withdraw from international competitions after invading Ukraine and not participating, for example, at Eurovision. Therefore, Israel should also not do so," said PM Sanchez.

Spanish PM Calls Israel To Be Expelled From International Cultural Events Due To Gaza War

Separately, Israel's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on PM Sanchez's statement.

Eurovision, which emphasizes its political extinction, again faced controversy during the month's final in Basel, Switzerland, which was won by Austrian singer JJ, while Israel's Yuval Raphael emerged as the winner of the vote over television.

Pro-Palestinian groups have urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the war in Gaza.

A year ago, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, officially recognized a united Palestinian state ruled by the Palestinian Authority and with East Jerusalem as its capital - a decision Israel condemned for supporting Hamas.

Last October, PM Sanchez urged the European Union and the wider international community to stop selling weapons to Israel, as Spain did in 2023.

The latest conflict in the Gaza Strip broke out on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, killing 1,200 people and holding 251 others hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas followed by the release of the hostages was agreed upon by both sides and valid since January 19. It ended in March with Israel continuing its attacks on March 18.

Yesterday, Gaza's health authorities confirmed the death toll from the Israeli attack had reached 53,486, as well as 121,398 injured, the majority of women and children.

Meanwhile, the death toll since Israel restarted attacks on March 18 has reached 3,340, while injuries have reached 9,357.