Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez held a warm meeting with the Israeli aid delegation to the earthquake disaster, thanking them for their assistance, according to reports. The delegation is expected to return to Israel soon but will leave behind systems for the Venezuelan authorities and establish ongoing contact.
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez met recently with the Israeli aid delegation to the earthquake-stricken country, thanking them for their humanitarian assistance, according to reports. The meeting comes as the delegation prepares to return to Israel after completing its on-ground operations, leaving behind specialized systems for the Venezuelan authorities and establishing ongoing coordination mechanisms.
The development marks a new chapter in a story The Zioneer has been tracking since late June. On June 30, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the mission despite the absence of diplomatic ties since 2009. On July 9, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the delegation for 'rebuilding relations' with Caracas. The mission was reported on July 20 to have entered its third week, becoming the longest humanitarian operation in Home Front Command history, with 32 experts on the ground. By July 22, The Zioneer reported that the delegation had completed its on-ground operations, with remote professional support continuing from Israel.
This shift in posture is stark: Rodríguez, who as vice president under the deposed Nicolás Maduro declared the earthquake-hit area a military zone and was a sharp critic of Israel, has now welcomed the Israeli team. The meeting represents the highest-level official contact between the two governments since the 2009 rupture, reflecting the country's post-Maduro realignment.
It remains unclear whether the meeting signals a concrete step toward restoring full diplomatic ties, though the delegation's departure and the handover of systems suggest ongoing bilateral engagement.
5 developments
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- DevelopingNetanyahu hails Israeli aid team for 'rebuilding relations' with Venezuela after 17-year diplomatic freeze
- DevelopingIDF vanguard of Israeli relief mission lands in quake-hit Venezuela
- StrongIsrael considers humanitarian aid mission to earthquake-stricken Venezuela
Source and signal
- Internal intake