Spanish PM says ‘silence not an option’ in face of ‘illegal Israeli war, genocide’

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defended Spain’s decision not to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, stating that the country could not remain silent in the face of Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and its aggression against Lebanon.

Speaking on Friday, Sánchez said Spain’s absence from the competition reflects its unwavering commitment to human rights and international law.

“That is why Spain is not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, because our commitment to human rights and international law is also expressed through culture,” Sánchez said in a video message shared on X.

Recalling the decision by Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, Sánchez described it as “both consistent and necessary: to stand up against injustice.”

“This year, therefore, will be different — yes, we won’t be in Vienna, but we’ll be doing this with the conviction that we’re on the right side of history,” he added.

The Spanish prime minister drew a parallel with the exclusion of Russia from the contest following its war with Ukraine.

“When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was barred from the contest, and Spain supported that decision. Those principles must also apply when we talk about Israel,” he said. “There can be no double standards.”

The 2026 contest began on May 12, with the Grand Final scheduled for Saturday.

Sánchez emphasized that Spain has historically supported Eurovision because the competition was created to “promote peace,” “bring us together,” and “celebrate the diversity of the European continent.”

“But in the face of illegal war and genocide, silence is not an option,” he declared.

“And we cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and Lebanon. It is a matter of consistency, responsibility, and humanity,” the prime minister added.

Sánchez also noted that several other countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, have taken a similar stance and will not participate in this year’s contest.

Earlier, Sánchez announced that Spain will urge the European Union to terminate its association agreement with Israel.

EU foreign ministers recently agreed on sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Senior Spanish government officials have repeatedly called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel to halt the genocidal war in Gaza.

Israel’s brutal aggression has killed more than 72,000 people in Gaza since October 2023.

Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities report that at least 2,869 people have been killed, 8,730 wounded, and more than one million displaced in the renewed Israeli aggression since March 2.

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