Sánchez: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and Lebanon

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended his country's decision to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's participation. He made the remarks in a video posted on social media hours before the final in Vienna, Austria.

Sánchez said Spain's withdrawal from the event because of Israeli military operations "puts Madrid on the right side of the historical divide." He added, in a statement carried by Agence France-Presse: "Faced with illegal war and genocide, silence is not an option. We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in Gaza and Lebanon. That is why we will not be in Vienna this year."

According to the Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos, in a notable part of his speech, Sánchez compared the Israeli military operations to the war in Russia and Ukraine, pointing out that Russia was excluded from the contest after its invasion of Ukraine, a decision Spain supported at the time. Sánchez asked: "These principles must also apply to the case of Israel. There cannot be double standards."