RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The international community has called for calm and Muslim countries have expressed their indignation at what is the worst eruption of violence in years between the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas – in power in the Gaza Strip – and Israel, triggered days ago by clashes in East Jerusalem.
The exchange of fire between Palestinian militias in Gaza and the Israeli army intensified on Tuesday, May 11, in the worst escalation in recent years, with at least 30 Palestinians killed and 3 fatalities in Israel.
In Latin America, several countries expressed their concern over the escalation of tension and three governments specifically condemned Israel for the new crossfire with armed groups in Gaza: Cuba, Venezuela and Argentina.
Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile expressed their concern over the escalation of tensions and violence without mentioning terrorist acts, while Honduras and Guatemala did likewise, rejecting “all terrorist acts”. For its part, Uruguay condemned the terrorist acts and also defended Israel’s right to “legitimate self-defense.”
The Argentine government of Alberto Fernández challenged the “disproportionate use of force” which, in his opinion, has been exercised by the Israeli defense forces since last week.
“The Argentine Republic expresses its deep concern over the dramatic escalation of the situation in Israel and Palestine, the disproportionate use of force by Israeli security units in the face of protests over potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, as well as the response through the launching of missiles and fire artillery devices from the Gaza Strip,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
“All this led to an escalation of violence, which we condemn, causing numerous fatalities, hundreds of wounded and bringing further suffering to the region and its inhabitants,” it added.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated on Twitter the position of the Cuban regime on these events: “Cuba strongly condemns Israel’s indiscriminate bombings against the Palestinian population in Gaza and denounces the United States’ continued support for these crimes.”
On behalf of the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, Chavista Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza condemned “the new violent and unjustifiable actions against the Palestinian people by Israel.” The official statement of the Chavista regime, which Arreza shared on his Twitter account, points out that Venezuela calls on the international community, reiterating its “historic position in defense of the sovereignty, independence and self-determination of Palestine.” And concludes, “The world must demand an end to this new stage of Zionist violence against the Palestinian people.”
“Mexico expresses its deep concern over the escalation of violence today in Jerusalem and Gaza, as well as in other locations, and calls for restraint by all parties and to refrain from further harm to the civilian population,” the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) stated on Twitter on Monday.
The government of Uruguay expressed in a statement “its strong condemnation of the terrorist acts and the escalation of attacks perpetrated from Gaza against Israeli territory.”
“On behalf of the people and Government of Guatemala, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its condolences for the loss of human lives due to the crossfire in the territories and sympathizes with the families of the deceased. It also expresses its wish for a speedy recovery of the wounded,” said Alejandro Giammattei’s official government statement, which also “strongly condemned all terrorist acts.”
“Honduras, as a pacifist State subscriber to the United Nations Charter, regrets the bloodshed in this new violent escalation that endangers peace in the region and the world,” said the statement issued by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the government of Juan Orlando Hernández, which also called on the international community to “by the established, necessary and appropriate means, to encourage respect for the self-determination of peoples and the right to live in peace.”
Honduran Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales, for his part, said that “Israel deserves to live in peace in its ancestral land, we condemn the terrorist hostility that permanently attacks its territory, especially its capital, Jerusalem. We mourn the victims and sympathize with their families. We pray for peace in Jerusalem.”
“The Nicaraguan Government of Reconciliation and National Unity expresses its deep dismay at the distressing escalation of violence affecting the Palestinian peoples and communities, and the people of Israel itself,” Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua said in a statement. “To the peoples, to the families, to those who suffer this tragedy, our unwavering solidarity and affection. Our prayers to the Almighty so that peace and good may be brought to those lands,” it added.
The Chilean government also expressed its “deep concern for the escalation of violence that originated in Jerusalem, today extended to other cities, and its aftermath of innocent victims.”
“Any action that indiscriminately targets the civilian population is unjustifiable, seriously violates humanitarian law and warrants the international community’s full repudiation,” the statement said.
Source: Infobae