Chile president attacked by Jewish community for calling Israeli army ‘murderers’

Chile´s President Gabriel Boric has lashed out against Israel in the context of its ongoing war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

“Once again the Israeli army attacks a school in Gaza. 18 dead from refugees and UNRWA officials. Murderers,” said Boric on X. “There is no justification for this barbarity. From Chile, we support UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his call for a ceasefire.”

Una vez más el ejército de Israel ataca una escuela en Gaza. 18 muertos, refugiados y funcionarios de la UNRWA. Asesinos. No hay justificación alguna a esta barbarie.

Desde Chile respaldamos al Secretario General de la ONU @antonioguterres es su clamor por el cese al fuego. https://t.co/ay02yhVm0j

— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) September 12, 2024

The Chilean president was referring to the massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces at Nuseirat School that is being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians.

The Jewish Community of Chile was not happy with Boric’s comment. “It is absolutely unacceptable that the President of the Republic addresses this delicate issue through informal posts,” it said. “These types of notoriously aggressive statements not only distort the reality of a complex conflict, but it also cause enormous damage to social peace in Chile.”

Earlier, Boric noted that Chile filed an official declaration of intervention in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case concerning the allegation of genocide against Israel. “The State of Chile is part of South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel in the International Court of Justice for the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,” he wrote. “The international community must do everything in our power to stop the massacre in Gaza. We cannot be indifferent.”

READ: Israel military acknowledges its killing of 3 Israel hostages in Gaza, cover-up of facts

Chile’s declaration has been submitted in accordance with the Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, which asserts its interest in the application of the Genocide Convention as it applies to the case. Article 63 asserts that any state party to a Convention that is under judicial consideration has the right to intervene, making the ICJ’s interpretation of that convention binding on them as well.

El Estado de Chile se hace parte de la demanda de Sudáfrica contra Israel en la Corte Internacional de Justicia para la aplicación de la Convención de prevención y castigo del crimen de Genocidio. La comunidad internacional debe hacer todo cuanto esté a nuestro alcance para… https://t.co/4Hwgzo4pDP

— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) September 13, 2024

According to the Chilean lawyer and former ambassador, Nelson Hadad, the decision of Chile´s president to join the ICJ case is a necessary step from a country which respects international law.

It is a traditional reaction from a president who supports the Palestinian cause and its people.

“I believe that the decision of President Gabriel Boric is coherent with Chile’s foreign policy, which is fundamentally based on the defence and protection of human rights as a universal value that must be fulfilled,” explained Hadad. “We value his decision to adhere to South Africa’s claim about the crime of genocide against the State of Israel.”

Moreover, he added, the decision is important to let the world know that the defence of international humanitarian laws is part of Chile’s foreign policy. Hadad believes that this step may open the way to other Latin American countries to join South Africa’s case against Israel.

Declaración Pública sobre la presentación del escrito de Chile como parte demandante contra Israel en la CIJ.#Palestina #Gaza #DeclaraciónPública pic.twitter.com/aCccQzUpne

— Comunidad Palestina de Chile (@ComPalestinaCL) September 13, 2024

The Jewish Community of Chile accused Boric and his government of having a “bad-tempered stance” regarding the Israeli offensive against Gaza. “Instead of adopting a balanced position that promotes peace and understanding, Israel is constantly attacked, ignoring the origin of this conflict,” it said. “The government, unlike what it does with Israel, does not participate in any effort to sanction terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which clearly reveals a political stance.” The organisation alleged that the ICJ case against Israel is based upon “unfounded accusations… without waiting for an impartial and thorough investigation of the facts.”

Pro-Palestine campaigners point out that the conflict did not begin on 7 October, 2023.

It began with the occupation of Palestine by the Zionist state from 1948 onwards. “Israel’s brutal military occupation is the ‘origin of this conflict’, not the actions of resistance groups,” said one. “No occupation, no need for resistance.”

Safeguarding social peace, the Jewish organisation added, is the president’s priority duty. “However, we see how he chooses to undermine it. The hostility provoked by these irresponsible statements harms diplomatic relations and affects the social fabric, encouraging divisions and prejudices in our society, which puts members of the Jewish community in Chile at serious risk, victims of an alarming resurgence of anti-Semitism.”

It concluded by suggesting that President Boric would do well to condemn Hamas and demand the return of the Israeli hostages from Gaza.

The occupation state has killed more than 41,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since last October, and wounded 95,500 others. An estimated 11,000 are missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by Israel. The apartheid state is holding thousands of Palestinians with neither charge nor trial, hostages in all but name.

READ: 15 aid agencies demand arms embargo, end to Israel’s systematic obstruction of aid to Gaza