NEW YORK: Palestinian communities in South America, residing in countries where leaders have historically shown pro-Palestinian sympathies, have expressed deep disappointment with their governments’ reactions to the ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza. Most Latin American nations, including Chile, Brazil, and Argentina, issued statements condemning Saturday’s attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. However, the responses have left Palestinian communities feeling betrayed and unheard.
In Chile, which hosts an estimated 500,000 Palestinians and their descendants, Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren’s statement expressing concern over the ” attack against Israel” drew sharp criticism. Many community leaders felt that the statement did not adequately represent their perspective and instead sided with Israel.
Similar sentiments echoed in Brazil, where former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known for his support for the Palestinian cause, disappointed Palestinian Brazilians with his statement.” While Lula has a history of advocating for Palestinian rights, his recent statement raised concerns among the Palestinian community, who felt that the term was unjustly applied.
In Argentina, a country with significant Jewish and Palestinian communities, President Alberto Fernandez condemned “the Hamas attack.” While the president’s party has expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments in the past, many Palestinian Argentinians believe that their government is hesitant in defending Palestinians’ rights effectively.
Media Blackout of Violence Against Palestinians
Activists in these countries have highlighted a media blockade, preventing the wider population from understanding the Palestinian reality. They stressed the importance of utilizing social media platforms to disseminate accurate information and counter the one-sided narratives prevalent in mainstream media.
The disappointment among South American Palestinians underscores the challenges faced by communities living far from the conflict zone, struggling to make their voices heard amidst the complex geopolitics of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
