Support for Palestinians in Havana: Cuba's President Spearheads Massive Protest
Stepping up for Palestine
On a chilly Thursday in Havana, the heart of Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel led a powerful demonstration in support of the Palestinians, drawing an astounding 100,000 passionate protesters. The youth groups and associations in the communist nation had called for this unified show of solidarity, aiming to bring an end to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Marching for a Cause
The demonstrators, waving Palestinian flags and voicing their anger at the US for backing Israel, took to the Malecón promenade. This renowned stretch of seawall, home to the American embassy, echoed with their chants. Students from high schools and universities, as well as employees of state-owned companies, joined the march.
Cristina Díaz, a 22-year-old student, voiced the sentiments of the young Cubans taking part in the demonstration by saying, "What we want is for these attacks on Palestine to cease." She lamented, "All the victims of this conflict are regrettable," but she was not mincing words. "This is a genocide." Javier Ernesto Borroto, a 19-year-old with a Palestinian scarf around his neck, added, "What's happening in Palestine is a great injustice, a massacre."
Presidential Presence and International Response
With his wife Lis Cuesta and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero by his side, President Díaz-Canel led the demonstration. The European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, happened to be in Cuba at the same time. This was the largest demonstration in Cuba since the beginning of the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Hamas and Gaza Conflict
The conflict in Gaza was sparked when hundreds of Hamas soldiers, classified as terrorists by the US and EU, invaded Israel on October 7. Atrocities, including those against women and children, followed. The Israeli government reported around 1,200 deaths and 240 hostages in Gaza.
Israel retaliated by launching massive airstrikes and ground attacks in Gaza. The Israeli government claims that more than 14,800 people have been killed in Gaza since then, with over 5,800 of them being children.
The Aftermath
Cuba's President Díaz-Canel's solidarity with the Palestinians was marked by this demonstration. Despite the President's visit to Cuba during this turbulent time, Eamon Gilmore, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, remained silent on the matter.
The Enrichment Insights
The international response to Cuba's pro-Palestinian demonstrations has been varied and intricate. Cuba's long-standing anti-Israel stance, marked by denunciations of Israeli actions and support of Palestinian causes, is part of its foreign relations policy. Pro-Hamas protests, like the one in Havana, have been decried by some, while others extend solidarity to the Palestinians, criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza. The reaction to these protests reveals a complex web of international relations, human rights concerns, and regional trends.
