Chile Receives 68 Palestinians Evacuated From Gaza, Including 36 Children

SANTIAGO, Sept 14 (NNN-TELESUR) - A group of 68 Palestinians, including 36 children and adolescents, arrived in Chile this Saturday after being evacuated from the Gaza Strip due to the humanitarian and security crisis caused by Israel's offensive in that territory.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric, a recognized defender of the Palestinian cause, celebrated the arrival of the group of Palestinians to the South American country and, on his social networks, detailed that it was a“complex” operation that took months to bring the group of people“whose lives were in danger due to the ongoing genocide. Chile honors its national anthem,” the president wrote.

These are people“with close ties” in Chile, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, in an action that had the collaboration of several international organizations and that is part of the country's“commitment” to international humanitarian law.

Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Gloria de la Fuente, explained that“this is a very limited action” because“an opportunity window opened” in the midst of the situation in Gaza.“For now, there is no planned situation of similar characteristics for the near future,” De la Fuente stressed.

Regarding the immigration situation of the newly arrived people, the authority specified that the group of Palestinians arrived with“a specific safe-conduct at the consular level” and that if they require it, they may apply for refuge.

Chile, which recognized Palestine as a“free, independent and sovereign” state in 2011, during the first government of conservative Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014), is home to the largest Palestinian community in the world outside of Arab countries, with about 500,000 people.

Together with Mexico and Colombia, the South American country presented a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in January 2024 to investigate possible war crimes in Gaza; and in September of the same year, it joined South Africa's accusation of genocide against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the United Nations.

In his last annual accountability address to Congress, in early June, Boric announced that he would promote a law to prohibit the import of products from Israeli settlements, supported the arms embargo promoted by Spain, and instructed the Ministry of Defense to create an urgent technological diversification plan. However, so far trade flows remain the same. - NNN-TELESUR

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