Original article: Solidaridad con Palestina se abre paso en el Congreso: Senado aprueba por unanimidad fecha conmemorativa

Congress Shows Solidarity with Palestine: Senate Unanimously Approves Commemorative Date

In a historic vote that transcended all party lines, the Senate approved a bill establishing January 7 as Chile-Palestine Friendship and Solidarity Day. This initiative received unanimous support and is now set for its third constitutional processing in the Chamber of Deputies, where it must be ratified to become law.

This gesture not only commemorates a diplomatic milestone but also highlights the presence of the Palestinian community in Chile, which is among the largest globally.

The approved bill included a modification proposed by the Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Iván Moreira (UDI) explained that the second article authorizes commemorative activities every January 7, aimed at celebrating bilateral ties and reaffirming Chile’s commitment to the United Nations Universal System for the Protection of Human Rights, particularly regarding the Palestinian people. Thus, this date transcends the symbolic and acquires social and political significance.

During the debate, Senators Iván Núñez (PC), Andrés Longton (RN), Diego Ibáñez (FA), Matías Walker (Democrats), and Alfonso De Urresti (PS) agreed on emphasizing that the relationship between the two nations extends beyond mere diplomacy, describing it as “a deeply intertwined human story with the very construction of Chile,” referencing the contributions of Palestinian immigrants who arrived in the early 20th century and actively integrated into the country’s commerce, culture, and social life.

The chosen date is significant: it remembers January 7, 2011, when the Chilean government officially recognized Palestine as a free, independent, and sovereign state, as noted by the Senate in a press release.

Senators Urge Government to Address Abduction of Chileans in Gaza Flotilla Attack

At the close of the session, Senators Núñez and Ibáñez requested a statement from President José Antonio Kast regarding the recent abduction of four Chilean citizens by Israel in international waters, who were part of the Global Solidarity Flotilla (GSF), a humanitarian mission aiming to break the illegal siege and blockade of Gaza.

On May 18, forces under Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime abducted 428 civilians from 40 countries aboard GSF vessels, including the Chileans: Víctor Chanfreau, Carolina Eltit, Claudio Caiozzi, and Ignacio Ladrón de Guevara. The latter held a Spanish passport and was part of the Spanish delegation.

The flotilla reported that the activists were subjected to degrading treatment by Israeli military forces, and their release, four days later, came after pressure from organizations, social movements, and governments directed at Tel Aviv.

The senators’ request adds a humanitarian urgency to the legislative discussion, reminding that solidarity with Palestine is expressed not only in commemorative dates but also in the protection of Chileans involved in the conflict.

With this unanimous support, the Senate has sent a cross-party political signal of solidarity, awaiting the lower house’s ratification for January 7 to officially become a day of reflection, brotherhood, and a demand for rights for the Palestinian people.