• Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez calls for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision over Gaza conflict.
• Sanchez cites Russia's Eurovision ban after its invasion of Ukraine as a precedent.
• Israel's participation faced protests and calls for exclusion amid rising casualties in Gaza.
• In a recent vote, Spain awarded Israel maximum points for its song despite political tensions.
• Sanchez expresses solidarity with Palestine and criticizes cultural double standards.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for Israel's exclusion from international cultural events such as Eurovision, linking this stance to Israel's military actions in Gaza. “We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture,” Sanchez stated during a conference in Madrid, urging solidarity with "the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment," according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

Pointing to Russia's ban from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sanchez argued that similar measures should apply to Israel. At the recent Eurovision contest held in Switzerland, Spain awarded Israel maximum public vote points for the song "New Day Will Rise." However, Sanchez highlighted the necessity of coherence in international laws and human rights commitment, stressing that no one was outraged when Russia was barred from cultural competitions, according to BBC and Reuters.

Throughout this ongoing conflict, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened, with local health officials reporting over 53,000 Palestinian deaths as of mid-May 2023 due to Israel's military offensive. Sanchez has been a long-time critic of Israel's actions in the occupied territories and has previously called for international pressure to halt hostilities. His government's stance includes a formal recognition of a Palestinian state, marking a significant shift in Spain's foreign policy, as mentioned in Indiatimes, Reuters, and BBC.

In a related statement, Sanchez reiterated the importance of artists advocating for core values such as democracy and peace, calling out those who maintain a "bland, silent, equidistant cultural sector." As the situation evolves, Spain's national broadcaster RTVE is under scrutiny for airing content supportive of Palestinians, reflecting the sensitive balance between politics and cultural participation, as noted by Indiatimes and Reuters.