Thousands of Chileans took to the streets of Santiago to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemn the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza. The protesters gathered outside the La Moneda presidential palace, waving Palestinian flags and banners that read “Stop the genocide” and “Free Palestine”.
The rally was organized by various social movements, human rights organizations, and political parties that support the Palestinian cause. Chile has the largest Palestinian diaspora outside the Arab world, with more than 500,000 people of Palestinian origin living in the country. Many of them have relatives and friends in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians since October 7, when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Israel.
The protesters denounced the Israeli aggression as a violation of international law and human rights, and called on the Chilean government to take a stronger stance against Israel. They also demanded an end to the US military and diplomatic support for Israel, which they said was enabling its crimes against the Palestinian people.
The rally was part of a global wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place in cities around the world, including New York, London, Geneva, Turin, and Dublin. The protesters have called for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on justice and self-determination for both peoples.