iran president visit latin america

Iran's president to visit three Latin American countries next week

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Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire Garcia

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Iran's President to Visit Three Latin American Countries Next Week

Iran's President to Visit Three Latin American Countries Next Week

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during the unveiling ceremony of the new ballistic missile called "Fattah" with a range of 1400 km, in Tehran, Iran, June 6, 2023. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela next week, Iran's state news agency IRNA announced on Wednesday, adding that the upcoming tour stemmed from invites from the presidents of each of the Latin American nations.

IRNA said documents to expand bilateral cooperation will be signed between Iran and the three countries during Raisi's visit, mentioning economic, political and scientific issues, but without going into further detail.

The state news agency said Raisi will leave Tehran on June 11.

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The three-country tour will give Raisi face time with three regional allies, each of whom lead leftists governments that have been accused by critics of human rights violations.

Iran and Venezuela are both members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

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(This story has been corrected to say that the Iranian president will leave Tehran on June 11, not May 11, in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire Garcia)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters .

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Raisi Mobilizes Support for Iran in Latin America

In a defiant challenge to the United States, President Ebrahim Raisi flew to three Latin American countries—one only 90 miles from the U.S. border—to deepen Iran’s strategic and economic ties in the western hemisphere. The trip, in mid-June 2023, included stops in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, all countries that share a worldview opposed to the U.S.-led international order.

Iran’s hardline president repeatedly lauded the Latin American countries for resisting U.S. pressure and highlighted their common agenda. “In the past, Latin America was considered to be the backyard of the Americans, but over time, each of the Latin American countries regained their independence,” Raisi told Telesur , a Venezuelan TV channel. Since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, “harmony” has been increasingly felt between Iranians and the people of Latin America “who have the same spirit and follow the same ideals.”

At each stop, Raisi harangued the United States and campaigned for collaboration to offset American pressure.  “Sanctions are a type of war against countries, but the weapon has changed. Yesterday it was a military weapon, and today it is a sanctions weapon,” he said on Telesur. “Sanctions seek to break the people. So we have to increase relations between sanctioned countries, which counteracts and neutralizes sanctions. 

The common issue for all four nations is sovereignty, Raisi said. “Americans don't want us to be independent” in production, export, or trade, he told Telesur . “Our war is actually a war of wills, a war between nations that want to live independently and a dominant system that wants nations … to be under its supervision and control. We believe that independent nations will win.”

Raisi’s trip reflected Iran’s diplomatic push to widen its reach and deepen its alliances. Iran has had few allies or trading partners since the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sweeping economic sanctions in 2018. By 2023, Tehran was increasingly isolated due to its nuclear advances, arming Russia for the war in Ukraine, and crackdown on domestic protests.

Iran has campaigned to offset the impact of sanctions by shoring up ties with a short roster of partners. In 2023, Raisi visited China – Iran’s top trade partner for a decade – as well as Syria and Indonesia. Iran also restored diplomatic relations with rival Saudi Arabia and improved frayed ties with other Gulf states, part of its broader campaign to end its isolation and pariah status in the world. The following is a rundown on Raisi’s three stops in Latin America.

Raisi arrived in Venezuela with Iran’s ministers of foreign affairs, oil, defense, and health on June 12. At a press conference with President Nicolas Maduro, he said the two nations share “common interests, common visions, and common enemies. The relationship between Iran and Venezuela is not just a normal diplomatic relationship, but a strategic relationship.”

During a meeting with leading members of the Venezuelan National Assembly , the president blasted tough U.S. sanctions imposed on both Iran and Venezuela. “We must turn sanctions and pressures into opportunities for progress,” he urged. “This movement has started in Iran and in the last two years good steps have been taken in this direction and these experiences can be used in Venezuela as well.”

Raisi also proposed closer cooperation between the two nations in a speech to Venezuelan students and elites. “The people of Iran will stand by the people of Venezuela, and we will shake the hands of those who want global justice, and we will stand until the establishment of a new and just world order.”

Venezuela has become a strategic partner to Iran on military and economic issues. It also has geographic importance. “Venezuela is the gateway to Iran's business activities in Latin America and the Caribbean," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Iranian news outlets.  

The two leaders signed 19 bilateral agreements on communications and information technology, energy, maritime transport, higher education, agriculture, medicine, cultural exchanges and mineral cooperation. The agreements reportedly included a petrochemical deal between Venezuelan state-owned Pequiven and Iran’s state-owned petrochemical company.

At a joint press conference , Raisi predicted that the volume of trade between Iran and Venezuela would increase to $10 billion and eventually to $20 billion. He met Venezuela businessmen and made several promotional stops to encourage economic cooperation. He stressed the need for “more active shipping lines between the two countries, expanding cooperation in industrial, mining, energy and monetary and banking issues.”

The Iranian leader, a former judiciary chief who was elected in 2021, visited Magasis, an Iranian store that opened in Caracas in August 2019. He attended a science and technology exhibition of Iranian advances and toured the production lines of two Iranian auto manufacturers—Saipa and Tractor Sazi -- in Caracas. Saipa signed a new memorandum of understanding with Venezuelan Industry Ministry's authorities to deliver the first batch of 2,000 cars within a few months. Raisi also talked to Islamic organizations in Managua.

On June 13, Raisi flew to Nicaragua, where he again had blistering language about the United States. He expressed solidarity with the Sandinista government. “The revolutions of the two countries had strong roots in the struggle against the domination of the rulers, especially the United States, which always sought to impose its will on others,” he said at a welcoming ceremony.

He framed relations between Nicaragua and Iran as “revolutions [with] strong roots in the struggle against the domination of the rulers, especially the United States, which always sought to impose its will on others.” In a joint press conference with President Daniel Ortega, Raisi said, “Cooperation between Latin American countries and other independent countries in different regions can create an alliance that both neutralizes sanctions and increases the capacity of independent countries.”

In an address to National Assembly , the Iranian president said the historical experience of both nations was “standing up to the people's vote, confronting the enemy's conspiracy and trying to realize democracy.” Tehran and Managua should “ask why the false claimants of human rights, freedom and democracy like America and some western countries don't tolerate the vote of real nations, including in Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Latin America?"

Raisi declared that the current world order is changing. “The indicators show that the power of the dictators and America is declining and the will of the nations in Latin America and West Asia is rising.” Raisi often paid tribute to Nicaragua’s revolutionaries, another implicit dig at the United States. He visited the monument for the Sandinista revolutionaries in Managua. Raisi and Ortega signed three cooperation agreements on economic cooperation, trade, and medical supplies.

Raisi’s final stop was in Cuba on June 15. The theme, again, was developing deeper ties to counter U.S. influence. At the welcoming ceremony , Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel said, “Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Iran are among the countries that have had to heroically confront sanctions, threats, blockades and interference by Yankee imperialism and its allies with a tenacious resistance." 

“The conditions and circumstances in which Cuba and Iran find themselves today have many things in common,” Raisi told the Cuban leader. “Every day our relations grow stronger.” The two leaders signed six cooperation agreements , including on “comprehensive political cooperation” and information technology. Raisi sought to strengthen economic ties at a meeting of Iranian and Cuban businessmen .

Senior officials from both nations and Cuba formed a working group on technological cooperation to share Iran’s expertise in nanotechnology and Cuba’s expertise on biotechnology. Raisi visited the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana, the manufacturers of the Abdala COVID vaccine made available in Latin America, and the production line of Cuba’s Central Vaccine Manufacturing Factory .  His final stop was to pay respects to Cuba’s  former president Raul Castro.

Photo Credits: Raisi at a grocery store via president.ir, Raisi and Maduro via president.ir, Raisi at the Nicaraguan National Assembly via president.ir, Raisi and Diaz-Canel via president.ir, Raisi and Castro via president.ir

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Iran's president to visit three Latin American countries next week

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela next week, Iran's state news agency IRNA announced on Wednesday, adding that the upcoming tour stemmed from invites from the presidents of each of the Latin American nations.

IRNA said documents to expand bilateral cooperation will be signed between Iran and the three countries during Raisi's visit, mentioning economic, political and scientific issues, but without going into further detail.

The state news agency said Raisi will leave Tehran on June 11.

The three-country tour will give Raisi face time with three regional allies, each of whom lead leftists governments that have been accused by critics of human rights violations.

Iran and Venezuela are both members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

(This story has been corrected to say that the Iranian president will leave Tehran on June 11, not May 11, in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire Garcia)

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Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi. Photo Credit: Tasnim News Agency

Iran: President Raisi To Visit Latin America

By Tasnim News Agency

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will leave Tehran on June 11 for a three-nation tour of Latin America. 

Accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, the Iranian president is going to visit Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.

Raisi will take the tour at the official invitation of his counterparts and in line with his administration’s policy of promotion of economic, political and scientific cooperation with aligned and friendly nations.

Iran is expected to sign several cooperation agreements with the three Latin American states during the presidential visit.

Raisi, who took office in August 2021, has described plans to enhance ties with Latin American countries as a main pillar of the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy.

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Iran’s President Begins Latin America Tour With Stop in Venezuela

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — In his first visit to Latin America, Iran’s hardline president on Monday met with his Venezuelan counterpart and declared that both countries have “a common enemy,” alluding to the United States, before signing a series of cooperation agreements.

President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Venezuela came a year and a day after President Nicolás Maduro visited him in Iran. Both countries are under heavy U.S. economic sanctions.

Raisi said the link between the two countries “is not normal, but rather a strategic relationship,” insisting that their nations have “common interests and we have common enemies.”

“They do not want the two countries, Iran and Venezuela, to be independent,” Raisi said referring to the U.S. government. His tour of allied nations in Latin America, including Cuba and Nicaragua, comes amid rising tensions with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

The U.S. has accused Iran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow, while the Kremlin seeks to ensure a steady supply of weapons for its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. intelligence officials believe the plant in Russia could start operations early next year, but Iran has said it supplied drones to Russia before the start of the war.

The more than dozen agreements signed by officials from the countries Monday include scholarships for Venezuelan students and the importation of cattle to Iran. Maduro’s visit last year to Iran resulted in agreements to expand ties in the oil and petrochemical industries, the military and the economy. But only a handful of the agreements have materialized.

Venezuela and Iran have maintained close relations since the government of the late President Hugo Chávez. Maduro, who became president in 2013 after Chávez death, has promoted trade relations with Iran, China, Russia and Turkey to try to overcome the effects of the economic sanctions.

Iran, particularly since 2020, has helped alleviate part of a fuel shortage in Venezuela.

“We are on the right side of history and together we will be invincible,” Maduro said.

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Mexican president wanted to lead Latin America, but reality and his own rhetoric got in the way

A car with diplomatic plates leaves the Mexican embassy, in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 5, 2024. Ecuador on Thursday declared Mexico’s ambassador to Quito persona non grata due to recent statements made by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador regarding Ecuador’s 2023 presidential elections. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Soldiers and police stand guard outside the Mexican embassy, in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 5, 2024. Ecuador on Thursday declared Mexico’s ambassador to Quito persona non grata due to recent statements made by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador regarding Ecuador’s 2023 presidential elections. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018 hoping to recover Mexico’s old reputation as the diplomatic leader of Latin America, but what he’s managed to do is get several of his country’s ambassadors kicked out of countries in the region .

On Friday, López Obrador doubled down after Ecuador ordered the Mexican ambassador out of the country a day earlier, vowing to send a military plane to remove the ambassador and pledging to continue the heated rhetoric. Previously, both Peru and Bolivia had withdrawn their ambassadors in similar disputes.

López Obrador acknowledged that more countries may expel Mexican diplomats because of his criticism of conservative governments, saying that was “because our posture is uncomfortable for the oligarchies of Latin America, and those that really run things, the foreign hegemonic forces.”

That sounds like staunch leftist rhetoric from the 1960s to the early 80s, the period López Obrador is nostalgic for, when Mexico’s old ruling party, the PRI, defended Cuba and helped start peace talks with leftist rebels in Central America. But the president hasn’t adapted to Latin America’s recent rapid swings from left to right.

“For a guy who’s really not interested in foreign policy, he’s got these pipe dreams of what Mexican foreign policy should look like,” said Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico’s former ambassador to the U.S. “It’s nostalgia, it’s the Mexico that he cut his teeth in as a politician, the PRI, it’s the typical PRI foreign policy of using Latin American as a foil vis-a-vis the U.S.”

While it sounds like just another of the president’s recurring, petty diplomatic disputes — López Obrador is famously uninterested in foreign policy and seldom travels or meets with other leaders — this one could escalate.

Mexico is using its embassy in Ecuador to protect an official from the former leftist government of ex-president Rafael Correa, who López Obrador really liked. The ex-official is fleeing two convictions and more investigations for corruption. Mexico upped the ante Friday by granting him asylum, and voiced fears Ecuador could raid the embassy to arrest the former official, who is accused of corruption.

“The Mexican government rejects the increased presence of Ecuadorian police forces outside the Mexican Embassy in Quito,” the Foreign Relations Department said in a statement Friday. “This clearly constitutes harassment of the embassy and is a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention.”

The whole spat started after López Obrador — who is known for making off-handed comments during his marathon-like daily news briefings — made insulting comments about current Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, suggesting the conservative won office because “they created this climate of fear.”

López Obrador claimed the conservatives used the 2023 assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate and anti-corruption crusader Fernando Villavicencio, to swing the elections in Noboa’s favor and block the return of Correa’s leftist movement.

Coming from a Mexican leader, the comments were particularly sensitive given that Mexican cartels are believed to be involved with many of the Ecuadorian gangs responsible for the exploding levels of violence in the South American country. López Obrador has a policy of not confronting the cartels.

But the comments also appeared to be insulting on a personal level to many.

Amanda Villavicencio, one of the daughters of the assassinated candidate, wrote in her social media accounts Thursday that “López Obrador, you should wash your mouth out before talking about my father. Fernando Villavicencio was killed by the mafiosos he always investigated, some of whom have taken refuge at your embassy and in your country.

The situation is complicated by the fact that things haven’t really been going López Obrador’s way in Latin America.

The former leftist president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, is one of López Obrador’s only close allies in the region, along with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the only foreigner ever invited to speak at a Mexican Independence Day celebration. Fernandez was swept out of power in last year’s elections by radical libertarian and free-market proponent Javier Milei.

The other major diplomatic leader in Latin America, Brazil’s leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has been well ahead of López Obrador on adopting a neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and condemning Israel for the war in Gaza. At one point he controversially compared Israel’s actions to the Holocaust.

In a sense, Lula da Silva is now much more of a leader for Latin America, just because he’s much more interested in foreign policy — and tries harder.

Since taking office in 2023, when he declared “Brazil is back!”, he has made 17 international trips, visited 28 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. López Obrador’s trips abroad can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

And global leaders will converge on Rio de Janeiro this year for the G20 summit. In March, Lula welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron during his three-day visit that his allies have portrayed as a return of the South American nation to top diplomatic circles.

Meanwhile, López Obrador’s hopes of leading a resurgent leftist tide in Latin America — waves that periodically swept the region every decade or so — have been frustrated by a region that now much more resembles a pinball machine of rapid switches, rather than a grand swing of any ideological pendulum.

“He doesn’t understand foreign policy,” Sarukhan, the former diplomat, said. “He doesn’t understand how the world has changed since the 1970s and how Mexico’s role in the world has changed.”

But in a real sense, Latin America is second to maintaining Mexico’s most economically important relationship, with the United States. Latin America is a stage where Mexico can ‘look’ leftist, while kowtowing to U.S. demands on everything else.

In 2022, López Obrador famously refused to attend a U.S. summit in Los Angeles because Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela hadn’t been invited.

But apart from some economic support for Cuba, including buying vaccines and importing doctors and supplying the island with oil, López Obrador’s support for Cuba has remained largely rhetorical.

López Obrador pledged at the beginning of his administration that there would be no tension with the U.S. and he has largely kept that promise by reliably acceding to every U.S. request on the most important issue, migration.

Mexico has agreed to try to stop migrants before they reach the U.S. border and agreed to accept deportees who are not Mexican citizens, something that by law it doesn’t have to do.

AP Reporter Mauricio Savarese contributed to this report from Sao Paulo.

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The World Health Organization spoke to patients who were in Al-Shifa Hospital during the Israeli military's two-week raid and shared the distressing conditions they experienced while trapped inside.

“My psyche has been shattered from within,” said patient Mohammad Ashour.

One patient, Hamza Marzouq, said families took patients out of rooms that were filled with urine, feces and flies. Two or three people died every day in that room, he said.

Another patient told the WHO that he was shocked to be alive and said, "I still wake up terrified."

A young boy named Mahmoud Mashharahi said soldiers forced his mother to leave the facility and he was terrified on his own.

"I was scared being alone, wishing my mother was with me," Mahmoud said. "I didn't want anything except for her.

Amnesty International demands U.S. suspend weapon sales and transfers to Israel

Amnesty International said today that President Joe Biden and Congress should halt all weapons sales and transfers to Israel as there is "overwhelming evidence that war crimes are being committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians."

Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International USA, urged Biden to end U.S. "complicity" by suspending arms deals with Israel. He described the administration's continued support to Israel as "unconscionable."

"The written assurances recently submitted by the Israeli government stating that they aren’t violating international humanitarian law with U.S. weapons are simply not credible, and it’s shocking that the U.S. government is going along with their statement while our research and international law experts disagree," O’Brien said.

"When will President Biden realize he is complicit in the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity? Enough is enough," O'Brien said.

U.K. judges, intelligence experts call for halt to Israeli arms sales

LONDON — Three former Supreme Court justices have joined more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit in genocide in Gaza.

Their call was also backed by two of the country’s leading intelligence experts, who argued that Britain needed to use any leverage it could to persuade Israel, and its biggest backer the United States, to change course in the conflict.

“The provision of military assistance and material to Israel may render the UK complicit in genocide as well as serious breaches of International Humanitarian Law,” the judges, barristers and legal academics said in a 17-page letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The British government has been a staunch ally of Israel since the eruption of hostilities on Oct. 7 but Foreign Secretary David Cameron has hardened his language in recent months over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Cameron said on March 8 that Israel had to be compliant with international humanitarian law in order for Britain to grant export licenses allowing arms sales to Israel, and that a judgement on that was underway and due in the "coming days."

Sunak has resisted calls to immediately halt weapons sales to Israel, saying the government adheres to a "very careful licensing regime." Two senior figures in Britain’s intelligence community — former national security adviser Peter Ricketts and Alex Younger, the former head of the MI6 foreign spy service — have said those sales should be used as leverage.

Ricketts said there was “now abundant evidence” that Israel was not compliant with international humanitarian law and that a ban would send a message that could stir debate in Washington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called any suggestion of genocide "outrageous," and has said Israel has an "unwavering commitment to international law."

World Central Kitchen aid worker’s family calls for an independent probe into the deadly attack

Raf Sanchez

TEL AVIV — The parents of a U.S.-Canadian aid worker killed in Israeli strikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy say they do not have confidence in Israel’s military to fairly investigate and are calling for an independent probe into the attack that claimed the life of their only son.

Jacob Flickinger, 33, was among seven humanitarians with the U.S. charity who were killed in the series of Israeli strikes in central Gaza on Monday night. Their deaths triggered a wave of global criticism and brought new scrutiny on the accuracy of Israel’s strikes in Gaza. 

Flickinger’s father, John Flickinger, told NBC News that he does not have confidence in the Israeli military’s investigation and emphasized the need for an independent investigation.

“An independent investigation is needed because aid workers continue to be killed by the IDF,” he said. “They kept firing until every worker was dead. So I think the Israeli government, you know, owes the families at least an apology, but I would say much more.”

Read the full story here.

Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of 'apparent war crime' in strike on residential building in Gaza

Human Rights Watch released a report today accusing the Israeli military of an "apparent war crime" in striking a residential building with seemingly no military target.

The strike in question was on a residential building south of Nusreit refugee camp on Oct. 31 and killed at least 106 civilians, more than half of which were children. Human Rights Watch said they found no evidence of a military target at the building in research conducted through witness interviews, analysis of satellite images, videos and photographs.

"Everyone Human Rights Watch interviewed who knew the building well said they were not aware of Palestinian fighters or military equipment in or near the building at the time of the attack," the report said.

Researchers are not allowed into Gaza to visit the site, Human Rights Watch said.

The organization said it sent a letter with questions about the strike in March, but Israeli authorities did not respond. The military has given the organization "no information that would demonstrate the existence of a military target" within or in the vicinity of the building.

NBC News has reached out to the IDF for comment using coordinates from the Human Rights Watch letter but has not independently verified the Human Rights Watch report.

Biden suggests U.S. could condition military aid to Israel on its actions to address humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Carol E. Lee Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Rebecca Shabad is in Washington, D.C.

Peter Alexander

Monica Alba

Allie Raffa

President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that  Israel's strike  that  killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers  earlier this week and the overall humanitarian situation were “unacceptable” and issued a warning about the U.S. changing its policy toward Israel.

Biden “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

Notably, Biden also “made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”

According to two U.S. officials, Biden strongly implied to Netanyahu that he could condition U.S. military aid to Israel on what it does to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and get to a cease-fire as soon as possible.

Gaza infrastructure damages estimated at $18.5B in U.N.-World Bank report

WASHINGTON — The Gaza Strip suffered about $18.5 billion in damages to critical infrastructure in the first four months of the Israeli bombardment launched in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, according to a joint World Bank and the United Nations report released on Tuesday.

The interim damage assessment report, which received financial support from the European Union, estimates the damages are equivalent to 97% of the combined GDP of the West Bank and Gaza in 2022 and left 26 million tons of debris and rubble that would take years to remove.

World Central Kitchen workers not first to be killed in Gaza: 'It shouldn't matter what passport you carry'

Conditions have been deadly for aid workers in Gaza long before the seven workers with World Central Kitchen were killed in a strike this week, staff members at Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said at a news conference this morning.

Dr. Amber Alayyan, deputy program manager for the Middle East, pointed out that almost 200 aid workers have been killed working in Gaza in response to a question about whether conditions would change following the World Central Kitchen strike.

"I would ask the question, is there a difference when foreign nationals are killed versus Palestinians who are killed?" Alayyan said. "Because to me, there shouldn't be. A humanitarian worker's a humanitarian worker. A doctor is a doctor and a nurse is a nurse. And it shouldn't matter what passport you carry."

The organization's representatives emphasized that they have been coordinating all of their movements with the Israeli military since November, but Alayyan said that “the concept of deconfliction at this point has become almost a joke.”

Five aid workers with MSF have been killed in Gaza over the last six months, as well as two family members who were with staff when their shelter was hit by an Israeli strike in February. Christopher Lockyear, MSF's secretary-general, said he was personally promised an investigation into a strike on a convoy in November but has not heard from Israel's department in charge of humanitarian aid.

"We have been expressing our concerns around coordination for several months, and that what really needs to change is the way this conflict is being conducted," Lockyear said. "And that we have, ultimately, a cease-fire — which is needed immediately and it needs to be sustained."

New York's archbishop to visit 'Israel and Palestine,' diocese says

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, will visit "Israel and Palestine" next week as part of his role as chair of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, his office said today.

"While there, the cardinal will meet with local Christian, Jewish, and Islamic religious leaders, visit various social service and humanitarian activities, as well as mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine," the statement said.

Dolan will meet with local representatives from Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities as well as social services groups. His office said he hopes to meet with the families of hostages, human rights groups, and share a Sabbath meal.

"A more complete itinerary will be shared when finalized," his office said.

Biden told Netanyahu U.S. policy going forward will hinge on assessment of Israel's changes to humanitarian situation

President Joe Biden said Israel's treatment of the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "unacceptable" in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a White House readout of the call.

Israel must implement steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers, Biden told Netanyahu.

"He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps," the readout said.

Biden also urged Netanyahu to empower his negotiation team to make a deal on hostage releases as an "immediate ceasefire is essential" to protecting civilian life.

Acute malnutrition cases worsening for children in Gaza, UNICEF says

Malnutrition cases among children in Gaza are worsening despite efforts to increase aid into northern Gaza, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban told the United Nations Security Council.

"In March, we reported that 1 in 3 children under 2 years of age - in the Northern Gaza Strip suffer from acute malnutrition, a figure that has more than doubled in the last two months," Chaiban said. "Dozens of children in the Northern Gaza Strip have reportedly died from malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks and half the population is facing catastrophic food insecurity."

Last month, a United Nations-led analysis of food insecurity warned that northern Gaza could fall into famine at any moment. Numerous countries have attempted to push more aid into the region, but an attack on one of Gaza's largest providers of meals this week has further threatened conditions.

Dr. Amber Alayyan, Médecins Sans Frontières deputy program manager for the Middle East, said in a news conference today that drops of aid alone will not help the actual disease that is malnutrition.

"If we were talking six months ago, yes, food might have been great ... sure we still need that," Alayyan said. "But we're talking about malnutrition, which is a medical problem which requires medical treatment and to treat it you have to have access to the population and that is not possible in Gaza."

Al-Shifa Hospital, once a cornerstone of medical care in Gaza City, was destroyed after a two-week Israeli military operation at the complex. International health officials have expressed increasing concern over the state of medical care in northern Gaza as medical facilities continue to be under siege.

Palestinians want April vote on U.N. membership despite U.S. saying peace with Israel must come first

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — The Palestinians want the Security Council to vote later this month on their revived request for full membership in the United Nations, despite the United States reiterating Wednesday that Israel and the Palestinians must first negotiate a peace agreement.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, said 140 countries recognize the state of Palestine, and “we believe it is high time now for our state to become a full member at the United Nations.”

The Palestinians are making a fresh bid for U.N. membership as the war between Israel and Hamas that began Oct. 7 nears its sixth month, putting the unresolved decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the spotlight after years on the back burner.

Mansour asked the Security Council on Tuesday to consider during April the Palestinians’ renewed application for membership, which was supported by the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

He told several journalists Wednesday that he expects the council’s Standing Committee on New Members, which includes all 15 council nations, to meet behind closed doors to consider the application before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 9.

Mansour said he then expects the Security Council to vote on the Palestinian request for full U.N. membership at its monthly meeting on the Middle East, being held at ministerial level April 18.

Seven of the council’s 15 members recognize the state of Palestine — China, Russia, Ecuador, Mozambique, Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked Wednesday whether the United States would veto full membership for Palestinians. “I am not going to speculate about what may happen down the road,” he replied.

Trump's hostage comment 'excruciatingly painful,' family member of Israeli hostage says

WASHINGTON — An Israeli-American hostage family member sharply criticized former President Donald Trump for repeatedly referring to people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as “hostages.”

"It’s excruciatingly painful," the family member told NBC News. "It’s not the same as being kidnapped, dragged across the border and taken into a tunnel beneath Gaza, where you’re held for months in the dark. That’s a hostage."

The family member added that it isn't just inaccurate, "it’s cruel."

Trump has repeatedly referred to the pretrial detainees who are charged in connection with the riot at the Capitol as "hostages." An NBC News analysis has found that just 15 people charged in connection with the Capitol attack are currently being held pretrial at the order of federal judges.

Israel must apologize and pay compensation to family of killed Polish aid worker, Poland's leaders say

Israel must apologize and pay compensation to the family of the Polish aid worker who was killed in the strikes on the Gaza aid convoy this week, Poland's leaders have said.

Damian Soból was killed along with six other workers of the World Central Kitchen charity, an incident that has drawn international outrage.

This morning, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk demanded a fuller explanation of what happened and said it was a matter of decency to pay compensation to the family of Soból, 35.

“I have no doubt at all that Israel should pay compensation to the family of our killed citizen. It should be an appropriate compensation,” Duda said. “I hope such a compensation will be paid in a just and honest way.”

Tusk said it was a “senseless and unnecessary death” and that Israel should apologize and provide detailed information about the circumstances of the deaths.

Aid convoy strike reinforces fears over Rafah invasion, Sec. Austin told Israeli defense minister

Mosheh Gains

Yael Factor

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed outrage over the World Central Kitchen strike in a call with his Israeli counterpart today and reiterated his concerns over a pending ground invasion of Rafah.

According to a readout from his office, Austin told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israel must do more to protect aid workers in Gaza after "repeated coordination failures with foreign aid groups."

"Secretary Austin stated that this tragedy reinforced the expressed concern over a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah, specifically focusing on the need to ensure the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the flow of humanitarian aid," his office said.

Gallant's office also provided a summary of the call, noting that Gallant expressed his sorrow over the attack and assured Austin that a thorough investigation was being conducted. He also mentioned a "series of measures" being assessed to increase aid distribution in Gaza.

Probe into World Central Kitchen convoy strike could take weeks, Israeli official indicates

Israel is conducting a "thorough and transparent examination" into the strikes that killed a group of World Central Kitchen aid workers this week, a spokesperson from the minister's office said.

"In the coming weeks as the findings become clear we will be transparent and share the results with the public," Raquela Karamson said during a briefing today, implying the investigation may take time.

A preliminary inquiry found that the Israeli military struck the convoy due to a "misidentification" at night. World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés pushed back against the Israeli explanation yesterday, noting that their convoys were clearly marked and their movements were in coordination with the military.

The prime ministers of Spain and Australia have also said in the last day that the current explanation is not good enough.

Biden-Netanyahu call comes after president's anger over aid convoy strike

WASHINGTON — Today's call between Biden and Netanyahu was scheduled after the Israeli strikes that killed seven aid workers in Gaza, a U.S. official told NBC News. It will be the first time the two leaders have spoken since the incident.

Biden is “very angry” about the strike, the official said. A separate U.S. official says the president intends to convey that anger to Netanyahu during their call today.

The first official says the president’s anger is “indicative of the broader problem of how the Israelis are conducting their operations” for, as this official notes “either not passing on to their military the deconfliction details from World Central Kitchen (regarding its aid workers) or they’re being received and ignored.”

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to join today’s call as well — likely from the road as she is traveling to North Carolina today.

Israeli authorities say they thwarted attacks, including plan to assassinate right-wing minister

TEL AVIV — Israeli authorities said this morning they had thwarted planned terror attacks on a number of targets, including a plan to assassinate a prominent right-wing minister.

"In recent months, the Shin Bet, the IDF, and the Israel Police have arrested a large number of suspects from Israel and the West Bank, including seven residents of the Negev and central Israel," the internal security agency Shin Bet said.

"Among other things, they intended to carry out an attack against IDF bases and secured facilities, including Ben Gurion Airport and the Government Center in Jerusalem," the statement said. "There was even an intention to assassinate the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, by obtaining an RPG missile in order to carry out the attack. There were also plans to kidnap IDF soldiers."

The plan was in its early stages and 10 suspects have now had indictments filed against them in court, the statement said.

Ben-Gvir thanked “all the security forces and everyone who participated in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of those who planned to assassinate me with an RPG,” a spokesperson said.

U.S. shoots down anti-ship missile and drones launched by Houthis

The U.S. military has said that its forces shot down two drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile that were launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The USS Gravely destroyer, which is patrolling the Red Sea, was the target of the attack, U.S. Central Command said this morning.

It is the latest attempted attack by the Houthis targeting international shipping and American forces in the area, and comes amid fears of escalation across the region after Iran blamed Israel for a strike on its consulate in Syria that killed a number of high-ranking commanders.

José Andrés demands answers for WCK tragedy in emotional post

TEL AVIV – Biden is set to hold a critical phone call with Israel’s prime minister after the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed seven aid workers. Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, is accusing Israel of systematically targeting the group. 

Jewish group launches Holocaust survivor speakers bureau to fight increasing antisemitism worldwide

More than 250 Holocaust survivors have joined an international initiative to share their stories of loss and survival with students around the world during a a time of rising antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip.

The Survivor Speakers Bureau was launched today by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference. The speakers bureau connects Holocaust survivors with students both virtually and in person.

“A Holocaust survivor speakers bureau of this scale and reach is unprecedented,” said Gideon Taylor, president of the Claims Conference. “At a moment of dramatically rising antisemitism, this program tells the history and educates for the future.”

Six million European Jews and people from other minorities were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust.

Gaza death toll tops 33,000, Health Ministry says

The death toll in the Gaza Strip since the Israel-Hamas war began has now passed 33,000, the enclave's Health Ministry said this morning.

Some 75,668 people in Gaza have been injured, it said.

Israel's explanation for aid worker deaths ‘not good enough,’ Australia says

Jennifer Jett

Israel’s explanation for the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza, including one Australian, is “not good enough,” the Australian prime minister has said.

The U.S., Australia and others have condemned Israel over the strikes, which killed Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom and six other people working for the U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen as they were traveling in a convoy after delivering food aid.

“We need to have accountability for how it has occurred, and what is not good enough is the statements that have been made, including that this is ‘just a product of war,’” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Sydney today.

Albanese has demanded “full accountability” from Israel, including in a call with Netanyahu yesterday.

Israeli military halts leave for all combat units amid Iranian threats

The Israeli military has this morning canceled leave for all combat units, a move that comes amid fears of an escalation with Iran after this week's attack on Tehran's consulate in Syria killed a number of senior military commanders.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that: "In accordance with the situational assessment, it has been decided that leave will be temporarily paused for all IDF combat units. The IDF is at war and the deployment of forces is under continuous assessment according to requirements."

The IDF said yesterday that it had drafted reservists to boost the country's aerial defenses, and Israeli media has reported that GPS services have been disrupted in Tel Aviv, an apparent effort to ward off possible guided missile attacks.

Palestinians look at the damage to WCK vehicles in Gaza

Max Butterworth

A Palestinian boy peers through the wreckage of a vehicle belonging to the World Central Kitchen convoy after it was struck in Deir el-Balah.

World Central Kitchen calls for independent probe into aid convoy strikes

Henry Austin

The World Central Kitchen aid group called today for the governments of Australia, Canada, the United States, Poland, and Britain to launch an independent investigation into the Israeli strikes that killed seven of its workers in Gaza.

The probe should examine "whether they were carried out intentionally or otherwise violated international law," the relief organization said in a statement.

“The aid workers killed were nationals of Australia, U.S./Canada dual citizen, Gaza, Poland, and the United Kingdom,” the statement said. It added that the group had "asked the Israeli government to immediately preserve all documents, communications, video and/or audio recordings, and any other materials potentially relevant to the April 1 strikes."

“An independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened, ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian aid workers,” World Central Kitchen said.

Israeli officials have said they are investigating the strikes, saying that a misidentification was to blame.

José Andrés says his aid workers were targeted ‘systematically, car by car’

José Andrés has insisted on an investigation by the U.S government into the Israeli strike that killed seven people working with his aid organization in Gaza, saying they were targeted “systematically, car by car.”

Israeli officials have opened an investigation into the strikes on three World Central Kitchen vehicles, saying that a misidentification led to the attack. Andrés rejected the assertion in an interview with Reuters, saying his teams worked in close coordination with Israel Defense Forces and were hit in a military-controlled deconflicted zone.

“This was over a 1.5, 1.8 kilometers, with a very defined humanitarian convoy that had signs in the top, in the roof, a very colorful logo that we are obviously very proud of,” Andrés said.

He also added that it was “very clear who we are and what we do.”

Andrés said that investigations should be launched by the home countries of each of the six foreign aid workers killed, which includes the United States and the United Kingdom.

Biden and Netanyahu to hold first call since Israeli strike killed World Central Kitchen workers

Zoë Richards

WASHINGTON — Biden and Netanyahu are expected to speak by phone today, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the call.

It will be their first direct communication since the seven aid workers were killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza this week.

The discussion comes after Biden on Tuesday delivered some of his strongest criticism of Israel since the start of its war with Hamas, saying that he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths of the World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers.

“Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” he said in his statement.

Catch up with our latest coverage of the war

• Top Israeli official Ron Dermer began yelling during a meeting with U.S. officials about Gaza, officials say
• Displeasure with Biden’s handling of Hamas-Israel war was on display at closed-door White House meeting
• Three destroyed cars over 2 miles: What photos tell us about the attack on World Central Kitchen workers
• Iran vows retaliation on Israel after commanders’ deaths, raising fears of war spiraling

Latin Independence Days

Much like the United States’ independence is celebrated on 4th of July, Latin American countries honor their own independence movements. Many of these movements occurred in the Age of Revolutions, a period from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s when several countries fought for and gained their independence. The Age of Revolutions began with the American Revolution in the 1770s, and by 1836 all of Latin America, except for Puerto Rico and Cuba, gained independence.

While hot dogs and fireworks represent some of the traditions that symbolize independence for Americans, other unique customs to commemorate hard-won freedom, national pride, and a revolutionary spirit are celebrated across Latin America. As you see in the United States, many Latin American countries honor their independence with big celebrations, which include parades, fireworks, and festivals. However, they also have unique traditions to celebrate their rich histories of revolution. From highly-anticipated speeches and reenactments to feasts that feature popular and traditional dishes, each country has a different twist on patriotic festivities and Latinos living in the U.S. continue to celebrate these independence days.

Latin Independence Day Celebrations

Independence holiday customs vary across Latin America. For example, in Mexico, the president recreates “El Grito de Dolores,” often called “El Grito.” This famous battle cry kicked off Mexico’s War for Independence from Spain. The cheering audience gets involved during the reenactment, shouting “Viva!” after each line is spoken. Celebrations of independence in Mexico also include large parades with vibrant floats and costumes, live bands that play traditional music, patriotic decorations, and fireworks displays. In the early 1900s, Mexican American communities living in California, Texas and the Southwest held dieciséis de septiembre - September 16th - celebrations.   Popular traditions on Colombia’s Independence Day include an official speech from the president, public concerts, beauty pageants, and parades featuring floats, military displays, and dancers wearing traditional costumes. Many of these traditions, such as speeches and parade floats, depict the history of Colombia’s fight for freedom. In Los Angeles, Festival Colombiano is hosted to commemorate the day. The festival includes music, dancing, and Colombian cuisine for families to enjoy.  

Popular Latin Independence Day Foods

Beyond the parades and fireworks, many backyard barbecues take place during the Independence Day holiday in the United States, and popular foods like hotdogs, hamburgers, and apple pies are enjoyed. Food is a central theme across Latin American countries and for Latinos living in the U.S. during patriotic celebrations, with both ancestral dishes and modern favorites served.

Asado, a popular style of barbecue in Argentina, is often seen during holiday celebrations. This style of grilling usually consists of cooking meat over an open fire or grill.   In Venezuela, popular foods eaten throughout the holiday include a variety of traditional dishes and sweet treats, such as:

• Pabellón criollo – Recognized as the national dish of Venezuela, it’s no surprise that this is a favorite for the patriotic day. Traditionally, the food is made with shredded beef, rice, beans, and “tajadas” – fried plantains.
• Arepas – An iconic food in Colombia and Venezuela, these grilled corn cakes are commonly stuffed with different fillings, such as cheese, meat, or beans.
• Tequeños – These fried cheese sticks are popular at parties serving appetizers.
• Crema de Auyama – This traditional squash soup is often seen at celebrations.

Peru is also known for feasting during spirited celebrations of freedom. Popular Peruvian dishes during this time include:

• Anticuchos – Traditionally made from beef heart, this festival dish is marinated, skewered, and grilled over hot coals.
• Papa a la huancaína – This recipe usually consists of boiled potatoes served in a spicy and creamy cheese sauce.
• Arroz con pollo – This favorite dish consists of seasoned chicken and rice.
• Suspiro a la limeña – A dessert to complete many celebrations, this sweet treat is a caramel meringue pudding.
• Chicha morada – Many patriotic celebrations include this non-alcoholic beverage, which is the national drink of Peru. It’s made from purple corn and fruit juices.

Latin Independence Dates within Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States each year from September 15 to October 15 to celebrate the integral contributions the Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy. This timeframe is significant because it covers the dates that many Central American countries celebrate the anniversary of their independence.

• September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• September 16 - Mexico
• September 18 - Chile
• September 21 - Belize  

Latin Independence Days Outside of Hispanic Heritage Month

Many Latin American countries commemorate their independence days outside of Hispanic Heritage Month.

• February 27 - Dominican Republic
• May 14 - Paraguay
• May 20 - Cuba
• July 5 - Venezuela
• July 9 - Argentina
• July 20 - Colombia
• July 28 - Peru
• August 6 - Bolivia
• August 10 - Ecuador
• August 25 - Uruguay
• September 7 - Brazil
• November 3 - Panama