Borić condemns Israel's actions before Biden, calls for lifting sanctions on Cuba

(Patria) - Chilean President Gabriel Borić, who earlier condemned the Israeli army's bombing of Gaza and recalled his ambassador to that country, told U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday that Israel's actions violate international law.

Borić said he condemns the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, but added that Israel's retaliatory bombing of Gaza was disproportionate and constituted a violation of international law, Reuters reported.

"These Hamas attacks are unjustifiable and deserve global condemnation, but the response of Benjamin Netanyahu's government also deserves our clearest condemnation," he told reporters after meeting with Biden at the White House.

"There is no doubt that we can say the response was disproportionate and violates international humanitarian law," he said. "The right of a state to defend itself has limits, and those limits imply respect for the lives of innocent civilians, especially children, and respect for civil humanitarian law," he added.

Asked about Biden's response, Borić said it was not for him to speak on behalf of the U.S. president.
Borić said he and Biden also discussed efforts to preserve democracy in Latin America and expressed gratitude for Washington's recent decision to lift sanctions on Venezuela. He also said he conveyed a desire to continue working with Brazil, Argentina and other countries to ensure free elections in Venezuela next year.

Borić called on Biden to lift sanctions on Cuba and remove it from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. "We understand that this issue provokes strong emotions in the United States. However, we must consider that these sanctions are not only aimed at the government; they affect the entire population. When people suffer, that should concern all of us," he added.

Borić and Biden exchanged a few words at the start of their meeting.

"The only problem I have with you is that you are too young," Biden told Borić, who is 37. "That's not a problem," Borić replied.

Biden said the two countries have had bilateral relations for 200 years, and the new Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP), whose leaders will meet at the White House on Friday, will help boost economic prosperity across the Western Hemisphere.

Borić said he looks forward to strengthening ties with the U.S. and said there are "many topics to discuss," including "the green transition, migration and economic development."