Spanish broadcaster criticizes Israel’s attacks on Gaza during Eurovision
OVIEDO, Spain
Spanish broadcaster TVE criticized Israel’s attacks on Gaza during a Eurovision broadcast Thursday evening.
As the Israeli candidate, Yuval Raphael, was introduced before her performance, TVE included captions questioning Israel’s participation in the song competition.
“TVE has requested a debate over its participation,” said the captions. “The victims of the Israeli attacks exceed 50,000, including more than 15,000 children.”
The Spanish broadcaster then called for “justice and respect for human rights” in the competition.
“This festival is peaceful,” the captions added.
Before diverging from the script, the captions noted that Raphael had survived the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
Last month, TVE urged a review of Israel’s participation in the event, citing public concern over the war in Gaza.
Last year, Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun spoke out against Israel’s participation, saying millions “felt ashamed” that Eurovision was being used to “whitewash a genocide.”
On Thursday, the Spanish ambassador to Israel was summoned after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez referred to Israel as a “genocidal state.”
The death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 53,000.
Since March 2, Israel has kept Gaza crossings closed to food, medical, and humanitarian aid, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave, according to government, human rights and international reports.
On Thursday, Doctors Without Borders said the last facility providing cancer treatment in the strip “is now out of service.”
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