Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across Brazil, Chile, and Mexico over the weekend, protesting against Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

In Brazil, large crowds gathered in downtown São Paulo, waving Palestinian flags and displaying graphic images of the destruction and mass killings in Gaza. Protesters urged President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to immediately sever diplomatic relations with Israel in response to its ongoing genocidal campaign. The demonstration was backed by numerous civil society organizations and several members of Brazil’s parliament.

Similar scenes unfolded in Santiago, Chile, where demonstrators demanded that President Gabriel Boric end diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv and denounced the continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans calling for an immediate end to what they described as war crimes against the Palestinian people.

In Mexico City, pro-Palestine activists held a large rally demanding an urgent ceasefire in Gaza. They emphasized the dire humanitarian conditions and condemned the silence of the international community.

The demonstrations come as the Gaza Strip faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with Israel maintaining a total blockade since March 2. The closure of border crossings has halted the entry of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medicine, while airstrikes and ground assaults continue unabated.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, resulting in an estimated 184,000 deaths and injuries, the majority of them women and children. Over 11,000 people remain missing, and famine has taken hold in parts of the Strip, killing even more civilians, including children.

Despite mounting global outrage and repeated rulings from the International Court of Justice ordering a halt to the violence, Israel continues to escalate its operations, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations and sparking growing international protest. (ILKHA)