Original article: «No debería requerir demasiada reflexión»: Exigen que Gobierno de Kast se pronuncie por declaraciones genocidas de ministro de Seguridad de Israel

Calls for Chilean Government to Address Israeli Minister’s Genocidal Remarks on Palestinian Lives

The Palestinian Information Center (CIP) urged the Chilean Government to respond to the genocidal statements made by Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir (shown in the photo), who publicly suggested killing between 30 and 40 Palestinians each night in Gaza because they «do not deserve to live,» claiming they are «not even human beings.»

In this context, the CIP stated, «It does not seem like a particularly demanding standard to expect a democratic government to condemn statements of this nature. However, thus far, the Chilean Government has not deemed it necessary to make a statement.»

The CIP questioned, «If a government minister can propose the killing of people by the dozens and deny their humanity without eliciting condemnation from our country, what exactly is the limit that must be crossed? What is the Government waiting for in terms of a response?»

Furthermore, they recalled that under President José Antonio Kast, the administration has made strides to restore political and military ties with Israel: reopening the doors of Fidae to the Israeli military industry; downgrading Chile’s role in the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People from full member to observer; and just days ago, announcing a decision to reinstate military attaches in Israel, reversing the withdrawal made back in 2025 in response to the genocide in Gaza.

The CIP added, «It is difficult to reconcile these decisions with the definition upheld by our Foreign Ministry regarding our foreign policy, which emphasizes respect for international law and the promotion of human rights as principles that have provided coherence and continuity to Chile’s actions over time.»

Chile’s International Obligations

Another important aspect highlighted by the CIP pertains to Chile’s international obligations.

On this point, they reminded that our country has been a part of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide since 1953, an instrument that obliges states to prevent and punish this crime.

«The International Court of Justice has established that this prevention obligation requires employing all reasonably available means to prevent genocide when there is knowledge of a serious risk,» they pointed out, emphasizing that previously, «the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway sanctioned Ben Gvir in 2025 precisely for his repeated incitement to violence against Palestinians.»

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