Chile has withdrawn its military, air force, and defense attachés from its embassy in Tel Aviv.

The move comes in response to what the Chilean government condemned as an escalating humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people.

The Chilean Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the decision was coordinated with the Ministry of Defense and was driven by “the extremely serious humanitarian situation currently experienced by the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.”

Chile sharply criticized the Israeli military for conducting what it called a “disproportionate and indiscriminate military operation” and for deliberately blocking life-saving humanitarian aid to a population trapped under siege.

The officials recalled include Defense and Air Force Attaché Colonel Christian Stuardo Núñez, Military Attaché Colonel Marcelo Elo Rodríguez, and Naval Attaché Captain Pedro Pérez Flores. Chile formally notified Israeli authorities prior to the announcement, signaling its firm diplomatic protest.

Under President Gabriel Boric, Chile has consistently aligned itself with international efforts to hold Israel accountable for its repeated violations of international law and human rights in occupied Palestine.

In 2022, President Boric sparked controversy by refusing to formally receive the Israeli ambassador, citing concerns over Israeli crimes against Palestinians. Relations worsened further in April 2024 when Chile banned Israeli participation in the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE)—a clear rebuke of Tel Aviv’s military policies.

Chile also recalled its ambassador to Israel in November 2023 after Israeli forces bombed a Palestinian refugee camp. The Boric administration further cemented its position by publicly backing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In its latest statement, Chile reiterated its call for an immediate halt to Israeli aggression, the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, and full adherence to international humanitarian law. The government emphasized the urgency of allowing unrestricted humanitarian access to a population devastated by war and collective punishment.

This announcement came as Israel’s war on Gaza reached its 600th day, with at least 24 more Palestinians, including women and children, killed in a fresh wave of airstrikes. The death toll continues to mount, with thousands buried under rubble and millions displaced from their homes.

President Boric’s firm stance joins a growing wave of international condemnation against Israel’s actions, especially from Latin America, where countries are increasingly rejecting the impunity granted to Israel on the global stage.

Chile’s move sends a powerful message: solidarity with the Palestinian people is not just symbolic—it demands real political consequences. (ILKHA)