El Ciudadano
Original article: Preocupación por abstención de Chile en votación de Asamblea Mundial de la Salud sobre situación sanitaria en territorio palestino ocupado
The Palestinian Community in Chile has expressed its «deep concern» regarding Chile’s abstention in the vote at the 79th World Health Assembly concerning the health situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
In a statement, Palestinian residents highlighted that this decision marks a deviation from Chile’s consistent stance on this issue.
The decision, which was approved with 89 votes in favor, calls on the WHO to report and take action in response to the destruction of the Palestinian health system, attacks on hospitals, ambulances, and medical personnel, obstruction of humanitarian aid, malnutrition, the threat of famine, and the severe physical and psychological consequences of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian civilian population.
Therefore, representatives from the Palestinian Community declared, «this abstention is difficult to understand and cannot be seen as merely a technical matter, as it contradicts Chile’s historical stance in defense of international law, the protection of civilian populations, and respect for United Nations resolutions.»
«From 1990 to 2025, Chile voted in favor of the annual text on Palestine and the Golan in the World Health Organization, with the sole exception of its absence in 2009. Thus, the 2026 abstention on the WHA79(9) decision represents a significant diplomatic break from a stance maintained for over three decades by governments of various political orientations,” the statement further adds.
The Palestinian Community emphasized that «it is particularly concerning that Chile opted not to support a strictly humanitarian decision aimed at protecting hospitals, healthcare personnel, the sick, the injured, and children, just a few weeks after endorsing resolutions in the Human Rights Council regarding accountability, the illegality of settlements, and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.»
«Chile cannot remain silent or adopt ambiguous positions in the face of the deliberate destruction of a healthcare system, the hunger of the civilian population, and attacks on those committed to saving lives,» asserted the Palestinian residents, who urged President Kast’s government to «rectify this signal and reaffirm, through concrete actions, Chile’s historical commitment to international law, international justice, the protection of civilian populations, and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.»
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