"Venezuelan Protests Call for Halting Genocide in Palestine"
Rewritten Article:
Hustle and bustle filled the streets of Caracas on March 2, 2024, as the city played host to a massive rally in solidarity with Palestine. Despite the sweltering heat, people flocked to El Panal Commune in the 23 de Enero neighborhood—a neighborhood steeped in revolutionary history—to lend their voices to a global cry for justice.
The demonstration, part of the Global Action Day for Palestine, wound its way through the city, culminating in a concentration near the Mountain Barracks, a symbolic outpost where the late President Hugo Chávez led his 1992 uprising.
Organized by the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force in collaboration with El Panal Commune communards and the Solidarity Platform with the Palestinian Cause, the rally drew support from a diverse range of organizations, including the United Socialist Party (PSUV) and many others.
As the sun beat down, Lebanese-Venezuelan journalist and longtime Palestinian solidarity activist, Hindu Anderi, took the stage. With a fiery passion that echoed through the crowd, she lashed out at multilateral organizations for their failure to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
"It's time we create organizations that respond to the demands of the people and address global injustices," Anderi declared, her words adding fuel to the fire of determination burning in the hearts of the demonstrators.
Drawing parallels with the Soviet Union's role during World War II, Anderi likened the struggle of Palestine to a fight against the rising tide of fascism. Urging support from people across the globe, she galvanized the crowd with her impassioned plea: "Stand with Palestine, and together we shall triumph!"
The Palestinian ambassador to Venezuela, Fadi Alzaben, also addressed the throng, his voice a steady beat of sorrow and indignation. Alzaben critically addressed Israel's ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people in Gaza, lamenting the senseless loss of life and the brutal treatment meted out to the innocent.
With tears glistening in his eyes, Alzaben expressed his gratitude to the Venezuelan people for their unwavering solidarity, simmering resolve, and continued support in the struggle for Palestine's liberation. "Your faces bring me hope," he said, fists raised high.
"In just over half a century, Israel's settler-colonial project has cost the lives of countless Palestinians," Alzaben firmly stated, recalling the bitter history of oppression. He mourned the over 30,000 deaths, with nearly half of them being children, resulting from the Israeli military's actions since October 7.
Jorge Quereguan, a member of the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force, pointed out the connection between Zionism and imperialism, describing them as twisted branches of the same fascist tree with a shared agenda. Quereguan drew parallels between Israel's colonialist project and the Spanish colonization of the Americas, both aiming to eradicate indigenous populations.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the crowd began to disperse, Jorge Arreaza, Secretary General of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America's Trade Agreement for the People (ALBA-TCP), took to the stage. Accompanied by Chávez's daughters, María Gabriela and Rosinés, he lauded the legacy of Chávez's support for Palestine and his steadfast leadership on world stages, denouncing Israel's US-backed occupation, massacres, and apartheid regime against the Palestinian people.
In 2009, Chávez severed diplomatic ties with Israel following a brutal assault on Gaza that left over 1,200 Palestinians dead and thousands more wounded. In the shadow of his predecessor's determination, President Nicolás Maduro has continued to express unwavering support for Palestine's liberation struggle. The Maduro administration also supported South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and recently paid tribute to the selfless sacrifice made by US airman Aaron Bushnell, who immolated himself outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in protest of Israel's genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip.
- The mobilization in Caracas on March 2, 2024, extended beyond the borders of Venezuela, linking with the Global Action Day for Palestine, a worldwide cry for justice.
- The rally, organized by the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force, El Panal Commune communards, and the Solidarity Platform with the Palestinian Cause, attracted support from various organizations such as the United Socialist Party (PSUV) and numerous others.
- Social media buzzed with updates, photos, and videos of the event, providing a platform for global audience members to express their solidarity and join a larger conversation about war-and-conflicts, politics, and pop-culture.
- In addition to international figures like Hindu Anderi, the Palestinian ambassador to Venezuela, Fadi Alzaben, also addressed the crowd, highlighting the ongoing atrocities in Gaza and expressing gratitude to Venezuelans for their steadfast support.
- The intersection of entertainment and politics was evident as general news coverage, crime-and-justice updates, and sports reporting seamlessly integrated stories from the Caracas rally into their evening broadcasts.
- Notably, some sports betting websites even offered odds on the duration and potential outcomes of the demonstration, reflecting the global enthusiasm and interest in the event.
- Amid the cacophony of Venezeulan revolution, Zionism, imperialism, and apartheid, calls for palestinian liberation echoed through the streets of Caracas, sending a powerful message to the world: the struggle for justice in Palestine has global implications, transcending borders and transcending time.
