ZAKA welcomes renewed Israel-Venezuela ties after earthquake aid mission

ZAKA, an Israeli voluntary organization, has welcomed the joint announcement of renewed diplomatic relations between Israel and Venezuela. This development comes just weeks after ZAKA and Israel's Home Front Command teams provided humanitarian assistance following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June. The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, caused significant devastation, resulting in over 6,000 deaths and at least 16,000 injuries. ZAKA highlighted that Israel's humanitarian operations in Venezuela became a crucial channel for communication between the two countries during the period when diplomatic relations were severed. These efforts, ZAKA stated, helped pave the way for the eventual renewal of ties. ZAKA CEO Zvi Hassid expressed pride in the organization's role, stating, "Today, when the countries announce the opening of a new page in relations between them, we are proud to know that the large ZAKA family was there at the moment when a bridge of humanity, compassion, and solidarity was built." Baruch Nidam, director of ZAKA's International Division, which managed the humanitarian mission, emphasized the cooperation between ZAKA personnel and local teams. He remarked, "Our activity in Venezuela proved once again that the language of saving lives is an international language." Nidam also praised the volunteers involved, noting that they brought "the Israeli spirit of mutual responsibility and human dignity" alongside their professional skills. He further elaborated that the mission exemplified the International Division's core purpose: to provide humanitarian aid irrespective of a country's diplomatic standing with Israel, asserting, "For us, this is the true meaning of the International Division at ZAKA: to be there when we are needed, anywhere in the world, and to extend a hand even when there are not yet diplomatic bridges. These bridges are built first of all by human beings."

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Today, when the countries announce the opening of a new page in relations between them, we are proud to know that the large ZAKA family was there at the moment when a bridge of humanity, compassion, and solidarity was built