RTVE challenges Eurovision and broadcasts a message of support for Palestine before the final.

BarcelonaRTVE has stood up to Eurovision and issued a message of support for Palestine and in defense of human rights just before the broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest final. The Eurovision Song Contest, to impose "punitive fines" on RTVE if, during the broadcast of the final of the festival, what is done this Saturday, the commentators mentioned the Gaza war. During the second semifinal broadcast on Thursday, commentators Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela spoke about the Palestinian deaths just before the match went on stage. Israel's representative, Yuval Raphael, who was introduced as a survivor of Hamas attacks at the Supernova festival on October 7, 2023.

The Spanish delegation, led by Ana Maria Bordas, received a letter from the EBU informing them that if the commentators broadcast messages like Thursday's again, RTVE will be sanctioned. The letter is signed, among other things, by the festival's executive supervisor, Martin Österdahl. The EBU's warning comes after Israeli public television, KAN, filed a complaint following Aguilar and Varela's comments. Spanish public television is one of the broadcasters participating in the festival that has asked the organizers to open a debate on the suitability or otherwise of Israel's participation in Eurovision, as the commentators pointed out.

During the broadcast, the commentators pointed out that the Israeli army has caused more than 50,000 deaths in Gaza, including more than 15,000 children. "This is not a petition against any country; it is a call for peace, justice, and respect for human rights in accordance with the integrative and peaceful purpose of the Eurovision Song Contest," Varela emphasized. For the EBU, "victim figures have no place in an apolitical entertainment program whose motto, United for Music, embodies our commitment to unity." Furthermore, in the same letter addressed to RTVE, they add that "it is essential that your commentators comply with these rules without exception [...] to preserve the apolitical nature of Eurovision and comply with the ethics and standards established in the rules. We expect RTVE's full cooperation to prevent any subsequent non-compliance from happening again."

RTVE's news council has expressed its concern about the EBU threat and issued a statement defending the commentators' right to express themselves freely. "We condemn any attempt at interference and defend RTVE's commitment to truthful reporting, especially in the face of events of international relevance," they add.