Venezuelans March to Demand Justice and an End to "Genocide" in Gaza

Thousands of Venezuelans gathered in Caracas today for a major march protesting what they termed the Israeli "genocide" in the Gaza Strip, coinciding with the two-year mark since the Al-Aqsa Flood operation in the enclave.

Heeding the call to “March for life, for justice, and sovereignty! Our struggle is the same! Palestine will win!”, government officials, social movements, and citizens marched from the Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda Park to the Palestinian Embassy.

Similar demonstrations were reported in states including Trujillo, Amazonas, and Delta Amacuro, where people joined the call to defend Venezuela, stand with the people of Palestine, and commemorate the major political-electoral victory of Commander Hugo Chávez on October 7, 2012.

Speaking outside the Palestinian diplomatic mission, Venezuelan politician Jorge Arreaza described the march as "beautiful" and thanked those who participated, calling it a demonstration of the character of the Venezuelan people. He labeled the ongoing conflict a "heinous and brutal" new phase of genocide that began two years ago, alleging that U.S. politicians are controlled by Israeli Zionism, which they refuse to condemn for fear of losing campaign funds.

Nahum Fernández, the head of government for Caracas, characterized the event as an expression of love from the Venezuelan people, who are also “threatened and in direct confrontation with imperialist actions” and are now showing solidarity with Palestine. “This is not a war; it is a genocide,” he stated.

A representative from the Hindu Anderi Popular Movement described the march as “a miracle of solidarity and perfect unity in the liberation of our peoples driven by love.” The cause of Palestine, they stated, is as well-known as the “genocide that has been ongoing for 78 years,” emphasizing that the Palestinian people have always been on their land, “except when they were forced out by the terrorist regime of Israel.”

The Palestinian ambassador in Caracas, Fady Alzaben, expressed feeling “full of pride and strength” upon seeing thousands of people in front of his country's embassy. He noted that the embassy was opened by Hugo Chávez in 2008 when Venezuela severed relations with Israel and established them with Palestine.

The diplomat stated that two years into a conflict in which Israel has killed over 80,000 Palestinians, the world remains silent, and “those who remain silent are complicit in this slaughter.” He affirmed that with this revolutionary spirit, the Palestinian people will prevail and, on behalf of his government, thanked Venezuelans for their support, solidarity, and brotherhood.

One march participant told the press, “We remain in the streets, as Chávez taught us, to demand an end to the genocide against the people of Gaza. From Venezuela, we will not tire of demanding respect for international law and the sovereignty of peoples.”