Pedro Sánchez Says Silence Is Not An Option Against Israel’s Illegal War, Genocide

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Spain’s decision not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, saying “silence is not an option” in the face of “illegal Israeli war, genocide” in the besieged Gaza Strip and aggression against Lebanon.

“The Spanish capital Madrid and several other cities witnessed large demonstrations to mark the 78th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba”

Al-Jazeera Net

Sánchez said Spain’s absence from the contest reflects its commitment to human rights and international law, adding “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.”

Al-Jazeera Net

Press TV also said Sánchez drew a parallel with Russia’s exclusion after its war with Ukraine, arguing “There can be no double standards.”

The same report said Sánchez would urge the European Union to terminate its association agreement with Israel, after EU foreign ministers agreed on sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Press TV further stated that Israel’s aggression has killed more than 72,000 people in Gaza since October 2023, and that Lebanese authorities reported at least 2,869 killed, 8,730 wounded, and more than one million displaced since March 2.

Al-Jazeera Net said the streets of Spain rose up on the anniversary of the Nakba, with demonstrations in Madrid and other cities that it said started in Barcelona and Valencia and reached Madrid.

In Madrid, human rights activist Elina Malino told Al Jazeera that there is not yet a comprehensive boycott of arms sales and no full ban on various activities, while stressing the need to exclude Israel from all sporting events.

Press TV

Al-Jazeera Net reported that Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz criticized Lamine Jamal after he waved the Palestinian flag during celebrations of his team’s league title, accusing him of incitement against Israel and fueling hatred.

The report said the Barcelona star Lamine Jamal (18) raised the Palestinian flag while inside the open-top bus that toured the city of Barcelona with his teammates, before posting clips including a photo on his Instagram account followed by more than 42 million people.

Al-Jazeera Net also said demonstrators raised demands including cutting diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv completely and pursuing Spanish companies accused of dealing with the occupation and contributing to genocide.

People’s Dispatch reported that on the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, health workers are advancing a campaign to boycott the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) as part of a broader effort to hold it accountable for neglecting medical ethics.

“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”

Press TV

The campaign, initiated by Doctors for Gaza (Netherlands), Global Health BDS (UK), Health Workers for Palestine (Spain) and the People’s Health Movement (PHM), is described as fighting to hold the IMA accountable for violations of the World Medical Association (WMA) Declarations of Geneva and Tokyo.

People’s Dispatch said the first phase of the campaign is focused on this year’s WMA Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in October 2026, and that over 500 physicians have already signed the petition.

The report named Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, Dr. Hanne Bosselaers, and Prof. Shabir Moosa among those who signed, and said multiple national medical associations have been contacted.

It also said the boycott is motivated by the Palestinian people’s call to boycott all Israeli institutions complicit in the genocide, framing the campaign as a response to the IMA’s “gross neglect of medical ethics.”