The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military actions in Gaza, citing double standards after Russia's ban since 2022. Despite Israel's strong performance in the contest, Sánchez expressed solidarity with Palestine and criticized Israel's actions, leading to a formal reprimand from Israel's foreign ministry. Spain's broadcaster RTVE awarded Israel maximum points while also airing a pro-Palestinian message.