Latin America has denounced Israel for its military operation in Gaza, severing political ties and even going so far as to label the Jewish nation a "terrorist state."
Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and other South and Central American nations have announced their unwavering support for the Palestinians in Gaza who have seen death and destruction during the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Agence France-Presse reported.
"I can't remember another similar situation where (all the countries in the region) have reacted practically as a bloc," political science professor Reginaldo Nasser, from the Pontifical University in Brazil, told AFP.
Gaza heath officials said over 2,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died during the war that began with Israeli air strikes in the coastal strip in early July. Israel saw 67 soldiers and six civilians killed, according to Reuters.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said this week Israel's two-month offensive was a "massacre."
Bolivian President Evo Morales took the criticism a step further and placed Israel on the country's "Terrorist States" list, AFP reported. He also got rid of a program that granted a visa waiver for Israeli citizens.
Some nations, including Brazil, Chile and El Salvador, have recalled their ambassadors from Israel. Costa Rica and Argentina, which have the area's largest Jewish populations, summoned the Israeli ambassador for meetings, according to AFP.
Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said he was saddened by the developments. He said the ambassador recalls only serve as "encouragement for Hamas, a group recognized as a terror organization by many countries around the world."
Nasser said there are numerous reasons why many Latin American nations have taken a stand against Israel. One is they are reflecting their anti-American sentiments on Israel, since the country has close diplomatic ties to the U.S., he told AFP.
Another is that Latin Americans identify with the pain Palestinians are going through, Nasser said.
