Since ancient times, nations have carried the banner of struggle as if it were an eternal flame, ignited by the hearts of the free and sustained by the spirits of revolutionaries who refuse to bow to oppression or tyranny, regardless of geography or language.

From Caracas to the streets of Gaza, the Palestinian struggle resonates deeply with the conscience of Latin American leaders, who view Palestine as the cause of an entire nation and a universal symbol of resistance and resilience.

Today, as we approach the International Conference for Solidarity with Palestine in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, we recall the stances of those leaders who connected their local struggles with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

This conference, organized in collaboration with the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine, the Simón Bolívar Institute for Peace, and the Latin American Return to Palestine League, takes place at a critical historical moment. Gaza is facing an unprecedented genocidal war, while the West Bank and Lebanon confront fierce Zionist aggression.

 

Palestine in the Thoughts of Latin American Leaders

When we look back at the historic visit of the international revolutionary Che Guevara to Gaza in 1959, we see that the Palestinian cause was ingrained in his thoughts and conscience from the very beginning.

His visit was an expression of a revolutionary vision that transcended national borders, embodying the concept of global solidarity. He famously said:

“The Palestinian cause is not the cause of a single nation; it is the cause of all nations fighting against colonialism and imperialism.”

Guevara’s visit was not merely a passing moment but a symbolic gesture reflecting the unity of human struggles against oppression and tyranny. After him came leaders such as Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, who reinforced this stance, drawing from Simón Bolívar’s revolutionary legacy a spirit of resilience and resistance.

The Conference: A Platform to Deliver the Message of Freedom

Under the slogan “With Resistance, We Survive and Triumph,” this conference serves as a global reminder that the Palestinian cause is not merely a local conflict but a symbol of the fight against a ruthless enemy that continues to wreak havoc on our world.

The conference coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, taking place on November 29–30, 2024. Activists from across the globe will gather to affirm that the steadfastness of Gaza and the West Bank is an extension of the resilience of Indigenous peoples decimated by colonialism and the legacy of revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

This conference also emphasizes that Palestine has never been a local issue but a global voice for all the oppressed. It reaffirms:

1- Strengthening global solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.
2- Reviving the role of Latin American peoples in confronting imperialism, inspired by the legacies of Chávez, Castro, and other leaders.
3- Holding the occupation accountable for its ongoing crimes, from the Nakba to the present day.
4- Boosting the boycott movement in all its forms.

In Conclusion

We stand at a historic moment, reminding us that revolutions begin with an idea and endure through sacrifice. Palestine is not alone and it will never be.

This land, inhabited by the spirits of martyrs and the memories of revolutionaries, Gaza stands like a bird that refuses to die. And from the mountains of Venezuela, which embraced the dreams of Bolívar, Chávez, and countless revolutionaries, Palestine’s voice rises to remind the world that freedom is indivisible, resistance creates life, and with resistance, we shall survive and triumph.