President Sheinbaum Finally Refers to israel Crimes in Gaza as “Genocide”

ByJay Watts

Clip courtesy Sin Línea

For the first time, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (Morena) has acknowledged that israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, this morning at her daily press conference. Previously when questioned during her Mañaneras del Pueblo, the morning press conferences she holds, she referred to it as a “war,” and used more neutral language, despite Mexico signing on to both the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court cases against israel in 2024.

“We have supported, from President López Obrador and now all the complaints that have been presented together with the Chilean government regarding the situation in Gaza and the entire position, in agreement with the international community, is to stop this genocide in Gaza. That is our position,” she said.

“We want the genocide in Gaza to stop. There can be no aggression against the civilian population.”

“The first time that Mexico recognizes a Palestinian ambassador with all her rights is in our government,” the President added.

Mexico’s Ambassador to Colombia had attended the most recent Hague Group meeting where multiple countries, but had not joined in any of the actions other countries took against israel.

Over the weekend, a coalition of 300 trade unions initiated a campaign to pressure the Mexican government to take a proactive stance against the genocide, marching through Mexico City, and on Sunday evening, activists illuminated the Monument to the Revolution with a demand that President Claudia Sheinbaum condemn the genocide in Gaza, with projections stating that “neutrality was complicity,” and Mexico is with Palestine.

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretariat held a meeting on Sunday afternoon in New York to prepare for the UN General Assembly.

As a state signatory to the Genocide Convention, Mexico has obligations under international law to actively take measures to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide, including by enacting relevant legislation and punishing perpetrators, from public officials to private individuals, which could include multiple businesspeople who do business in Mexico, as well as IDF soldiers who vacation in the country. Mexico is also obligated to act to prevent genocide extraterritorially.

In response to Sheinbaum’s declaration, Palestinian solidarity activist Silvana Rabinovich tweeted, “With sincere respect: President Claudia Sheinbaum, these statements would have been very appropriate 30 years ago, but we need effective actions today, like those demanded by the Hague Group: an arms embargo first! Saturday was the last day to sign. It is not too late to correct.”

The United Nations General Assembly meeting begins tomorrow in New York, commemorating the 80th anniversary of its founding, where Palestine and the ongoing genocide committed by israel with the full support of the United States of America is expected to be the focus.

The Hague Group is also meeting in New York, with a public event on Friday, September 26th with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, professor Noura Erakat, and Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.