Bolivian President Rescinds Open Visa for Israelis Over Gaza Crisis
Latin American leaders continue to express their outrage over Israel Defense Forces' invasion of Gaza, and take measures to denounce the violence.
Bolivian President Evo Morales announced on Wednesday that Israelis need visas to visit Bolivia. The announcement overturns a 1972 agreement for Israelis to travel freely in Bolivia without a visa. Morales said the agreement was made under a dictatorial regime and he categorized Israel a "group 3" country.
"In other words we are declaring [Israel] a terrorist state," Morales said. "Israel does not respect the principles or purposes of the United Nations charter nor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Associated Press reported "President Evo Morales already broke off diplomatic relations with the Jewish state in 2009, calling Israel's treatment of Palestinians 'a genocide.'"
El Salvador has joined other South American countries, including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru, in recalling their ambassadors from Israel in protest over the fighting in Gaza.
Spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry Yigal Palmor criticized the decisions of the Latin American countries as an encouragement to Hamas militants to continue their rocket and tunnel attacks on the country.
The U.N. Humanitarian Chief, Valerie Amos, called on Thursday for a "humanitarian pause" until a long-term ceasefire can be negotiated between Israel and Hamas.
Since Israel began its war against Gaza on July 7, 1,300 Palestinians have been killed, 80 percent of them civilians, including 251 children.
Pierre Krahenbuhl, head of the U.N agency for Palestinian refugees, spoke to the Security Council from Gaza he said he had the same message from people in Gaza, "If we are not safe in an UNRWA school, we are not safe anywhere in Gaza." UNRWA is currently sheltering 220,000 people in 85 schools.
"We are gravely concerned about this situation. Equally, we are gravely concerned about any possible additional displacement that will drive up the numbers in our shelters. With as many as 2,500 displaced people residing in schools and an average of 80 people to a classroom, we have exceeded the tolerable limit we can accommodate. It is therefore with alarm that I have received accounts of new instructions from the Israeli military to Palestinians to evacuate the Zeitoun area of Gaza City, and areas in the vicinity of Khan Younis," said Krahenbuhl.
"In view of these facts, and of the shelling affecting UNRWA schools on six occasions, I believe the population is facing a precipice and appeal to the international community to take the steps necessary to address this extreme situation. Should further large scale displacements indeed occur, the Occupying Power, according to International Humanitarian Law, will have to assume direct responsibility to assist these people."