The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela condemned the new attack carried out this Thursday by the Israeli government against dozens of Palestinians who were in the middle of Al-Rashid Street, in Gaza, that they were waiting for trucks containing food aid.
In a statement published by Foreign Minister Yván Gil on his social media account, Venezuela described the incident as "abominable" and stated that it "joins the ongoing inhumane and exterminating actions against innocent and defenseless civilians that have been occurring since the start of the escalation of violence on October 07, 2023; until now, under the absolute impunity of the Israeli government."
Following this new Israeli offensive, Venezuela reiterated its urgent call to the international community and international organizations to work to "put an end to Israel's flagrant arbitrariness and its violation of international laws and conventions, and the imperative need to halt the ongoing war crimes against the Palestinian people."
In the attack carried out this Thursday, Israeli forces opened fire with heavy tanks and artillery against thousands of citizens in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun.
In the attack, approximately 104 Palestinian civilians were killed and 760 wounded.
The Gaza government denounced that the attack “was premeditated and intentional, in the context of the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the people of the Gaza Strip. “The occupation army knew that these victims had come to this area to get food and help, but they killed them in cold blood.”
Since last October and to date, more than 30.000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks.
Among the 30.000 deaths are the 81 registered in the last 24 hours, not counting the hundred people who lost their lives during the distribution of food.
Due to this attack, the United Nations (UN) Security Council convened an emergency session to debate the massacre.
Here is the full text:
The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela strongly condemns Israel's lethal attack against Palestinian citizens in Gaza, which massacred at least 104 civilians, this February 29, 2024, while they were waiting for the delivery of humanitarian aid, north of the enclave.
This abominable fact adds to the continuous inhumane and extermination actions against innocent and defenseless civilians that have been occurring since the beginning of the escalation of violence on October 07, 2023; until now, under the absolute impunity of the Israeli government.
We denounce once again, before the international community, the systematic practice of annihilation and genocide carried out by the Zionist forces against the people of Palestine in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
Venezuela reiterates the urgent call to the international community and international organizations, based on the moral, legal and humanitarian responsibilities of the States, to put an end to the flagrant arbitrariness on the part of Israel and its violation of international laws and conventions and the prevailing need to stop the continuous war crimes against the Palestinian people, which almost five months into the conflict amount to more than 30 thousand deaths.
We express our willingness to continue supporting initiatives and efforts that contribute to the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace solution to the Palestinian issue; to consider Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories based on the 1967 borders; and that allows the establishment of the independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Caracas February 29, 2024.
