Austrian singer JJ, winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, has called for Israel to be barred from next year’s event in Vienna due to the ongoing war in Gaza.

“I would like Eurovision to be held in Vienna next year and without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU’s court. We, the artists, can only raise our voices on the matter,” JJ told El Pais, as reported by the Spanish daily.

The 24-year-old, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, won with his song Wasted Love, narrowly beating Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who finished second amid widespread public support. “It is very disappointing to see that Israel continues to participate in the contest,” JJ said.

His comments follow criticism from former winner Nemo and others who argue that Eurovision should not allow Israel to compete while the war continues and Gaza is under siege.

Tensions over Israel’s participation escalated during the 2024 contest, held in Switzerland, where pro-Palestinian demonstrations were staged. Critics accused the EBU of double standards for excluding Russia in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine while allowing Israel to remain amid its Gaza campaign.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez added to the criticism, saying, “What we cannot allow is double standards in culture,” as reported from a Madrid press conference. He compared Israel’s inclusion to Russia’s 2022 exclusion over its invasion of Ukraine.

This year more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter urging Israel’s ban, accusing the country of “genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.”

Israel’s broadcaster KAN has not responded to comments from this year’s winner, nor has the country’s contestant from this year’s contest–singer Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 Hamas attack.

Austria’s broadcaster ORF distanced itself from JJ’s comments, saying they reflected a personal view, according to APA. JJ later said he was “sorry if his comments had been misinterpreted,” via Warner Music.

JJ also called for “greater transparency on the issue of televoting,” in the interview with El Pais, echoing broader concerns. Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has called for an audit of the Eurovision voting process, citing concerns about potential external influence. Similar concerns were voiced by broadcasters in Ireland, Belgium, and Finland.