Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced the withdrawal of his country’s military attachés from its embassy in Tel Aviv, citing the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemning Israeli military actions following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
Describing the move as a humanitarian gesture rather than a political statement, Boric pointed to firsthand accounts from international aid workers as evidence of the civilian toll in Gaza. He referenced U.S. volunteer surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, whose testimony detailed the treatment of injured children and pregnant women in Gaza hospitals.
“For those who question the stance I have taken as head of state regarding the genocide in Gaza committed by the Netanyahu government, I urge them to listen to Dr. Sidhwa’s testimony,” Boric said, quoting a United Nations report in which the surgeon stated: “For five weeks in Gaza, I did not see or treat any combatant. My patients were six-year-old children with shrapnel in their hearts and bullets in their brains, pregnant women with shattered pelvises, and a fetus cut in two in the uterus.”
Boric said such testimonies illustrate the scale of the humanitarian emergency and justify Chile’s diplomatic response.
Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren affirmed the decision, emphasizing that while Chile would maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the removal of military personnel was a targeted and urgent response to the situation on the ground.
“We are witnessing a very serious humanitarian situation caused by the sustained actions of the Israeli army,” van Klaveren said. “Nothing justifies the scale of the deaths that have occurred in Gaza.”
He also condemned what he described as war crimes, calling for “energetic measures” in response. However, van Klaveren stressed that the withdrawal did not represent a rupture in diplomatic ties, noting that the decision should be understood within the context of its limited scope.
The Chilean government has consistently voiced concern over the conflict in Gaza, where health officials report tens of thousands of casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure. While recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas, Boric and his administration maintain that the Israeli response has been disproportionate and has resulted in unacceptable civilian suffering.
