Israel's Foreign Ministry is assessing a possible humanitarian aid mission to Venezuela after the 7.5-magnitude earthquake, including search-and-rescue and medical teams. Several Israeli NGOs are also evaluating deployments, though logistical challenges remain due to the absence of diplomatic ties since 2009.
Israel is now actively assessing a humanitarian aid mission to earthquake-stricken Venezuela, with the Foreign Ministry and several NGOs — including IsraAid, Natan, SmartAID, and ZAKA — evaluating possible search-and-rescue and medical deployments, despite the absence of diplomatic ties since 2009. The assessment comes after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered the ministry to prepare for such a mission earlier on Thursday (Thu 10:15 Jerusalem), as The Zioneer first reported. By Thu 11:13 Jerusalem, the desk also published exclusive footage from the disaster zone showing the moment of the 7.5-magnitude quake, with a witness stating: "The building shook and shook."
Earlier on Thursday (Thu 10:15 Jerusalem), The Zioneer reported that Foreign Minister Sa'ar had instructed the ministry to immediately prepare for a possible aid mission, citing Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). That initial report noted the ministry was conducting a situation assessment with relevant bodies. By mid-morning (Thu 11:13 Jerusalem), the desk confirmed the preparation was underway and published exclusive footage from the disaster zone. This afternoon's update (Thu 14:29 Jerusalem) adds that the Foreign Ministry and NGOs are now specifically assessing search-and-rescue and medical teams, while logistical hurdles remain due to travel restrictions.
Israel has a longstanding policy of providing humanitarian aid based on need rather than political relations, as The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday. The desk also reported separately on Thursday (Thu 12:40 Jerusalem) that the Jewish Agency opened an emergency hotline for families in Israel concerned about relatives in Venezuela, and (Thu 13:00 Jerusalem) that KKL-JNF is preparing to provide immediate financial aid to the local Jewish community and displaced families.
The welfare of Venezuela's Jewish community is being monitored; initial reports indicate no casualties among community members. No final decision on deployment has been made, and the scope and timing of any mission remain unconfirmed.
3 developments
- DevelopingJewish Agency opens emergency hotline for Israeli families following Venezuela earthquake
- DevelopingVenezuela reports severe rescue challenges, acute equipment shortage after earthquake
- DevelopingKKL-JNF prepares emergency aid for Jewish community in earthquake-stricken Venezuela
- DevelopingVenezuela’s vice president says international rescue teams en route after earthquake
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- Internal intake