PBI-Honduras accompanied COPINH backs South Africa’s case against Israel for genocide in Gaza

Photo: COPINH general coordinator Bertha Zúñiga Cáceres holds the letter.

On January 8, the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) posted on X/Twitter:

“We support the initiative of #South Africa by bringing Israel before the [International Court of Justice] for violations of agreements on genocide in the #Gaza Strip. International solidarity is essential to fight for peace and the restoration of all violated rights. #FreePalestine”

Then on January 11, it also posted:

“#Attention #Honduran social organizations present letter of request to President Xiomara Castro to support South Africa’s case against Israel for genocide in Gaza.

Israel has bombed hospitals, homes, UN refugee centers, temples, churches and mosques, and escape routes, killing thousands of Palestinians, including thousands of children.

South Africa is right to charge that, under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Israel’s actions “are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite and specific intent (…) to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza…”

We the #Lenca people raise our voice against oppression and injustice. We urge the State of #Honduras to accompany the case of South Africa and let’s put a Stop to Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people!

Full letter | ”

The co-founder of COPINH Berta Caceres was murdered on March 3, 2016.

Front Line Defenders has documented the attacks and harassment of COPINH members, including the killing of Nelson García on March 15, 2016.

Global Witness has reported that 14 land and environmental defenders were killed in Honduras in 2022. This is the context in which COPINH works.

COPINH’s coordinators have been accompanied by the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project since May 2016.