Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged for Israel to be excluded from international cultural events, including the Eurovision Song Contest, as a response to its ongoing military operations in Gaza. During a conference held in Madrid, Sanchez drew a parallel between the situation involving Israel and the decision to exclude Russia from cultural platforms following its invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that there should be no "double standards," stating that such principles must apply universally—even within the realm of culture.
Sanchez also called on artists and cultural figures to actively uphold and promote core values such as democracy and peace. He criticized the idea of neutrality in the cultural sphere, implying that silence or impartiality in the face of conflict undermines these values. His remarks come amid continuous appeals from pro-Palestinian groups demanding Israel’s exclusion from cultural events, in light of the reported death toll of over 53,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. As of now, Israel’s foreign ministry has not issued any official response to Sanchez’s statements.
