Israeli Home Front Command team welcomed in Venezuela despite decades of government hostility

An Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command delegation sent to earthquake-stricken Venezuela has been met with an unexpectedly warm reception despite years of anti-Israel rhetoric from the country's government and the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The 32-member team, which traveled for 25 hours to assist after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in late June, initially arrived to assess damaged buildings. However, the delegation quickly expanded its role after determining that local authorities needed broader rehabilitation expertise, according to IDF Brig. Gen. Elad Edri, chief of staff of the Home Front Command.

“There were question marks, but I have to say we were positively stunned. We landed in Valencia, two hours from Caracas, and the welcome was especially warm. Here, we are walking among the ruined buildings, and people are shaking our hands and blessing us. Every police officer who meets us sees the flag on our sleeve and says, ‘You’re from Israel? Thank you for coming.’ There is zero hostility,” Edri stated.

The Israeli general also recalled that members of Venezuela's Jewish community were deeply moved by the delegation's arrival.

“There were people in the community who were moved to tears when they saw us in IDF uniforms. All the soldiers in the delegation are moving around in uniform, accompanied by security and local police. We have not encountered any protest. Everywhere we have been, we have received only appreciation, gratitude and comments that our arrival should not be taken for granted,” Edri said.

“Last Friday, we also held a joint prayer and Shabbat dinner with members of the Jewish community. There was tremendous emotion over our arrival, certainly in the shadow of the disaster. We were very glad to make that close connection,” he added.

At least 3,340 people have been confirmed dead in the earthquakes, while about 16,000 were injured and more than 17,000 were left homeless.

Although Israeli Home Front Command teams are best known for conducting search-and-rescue operations, including after the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023, Venezuelan authorities requested Israeli expertise in assessing damaged infrastructure and planning long-term rehabilitation rather than rescue assistance.

After surveying the affected areas, the Israeli team concluded that the scope of the mission was far greater than originally anticipated.

“We proposed a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the damaged area. We have these capabilities,” Edri assessed. “The locals were very enthusiastic about the idea, and they immediately presented it to the president of Venezuela,” he added.

According to Edri, Venezuelan officials quickly embraced the expanded proposal.

“We presented the plan to the authorities, and the enthusiasm was enormous. They worked on it all night, and now our teams are mapping areas at their request. At the moment, there are about 1,300 buildings of various types that need to be assessed, from 15-story residential towers to schools. An earthquake is a terrible disaster, and the sights here are very difficult. There are many homeless people on the streets who are organized in tent camps, and our arrival makes it clear to them that they are not alone,” Edri explained.

“We are working very well with the local government. They very much want Israeli assistance and are cooperating with us fully,” the Israeli official explained. “We are preparing a professional report and passing our recommendations on to the government. Ultimately, the decision on whether to evacuate, rehabilitate or demolish a building belongs to the authorities in Venezuela,” he added.

In June, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel would send an aid mission to Venezuela despite the absence of official diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"We do not have diplomatic relations with Venezuela, but we sent a rescue mission including experts with the Home Front Command to assist in the rescue of those injured in the severe tragedy that befell the people of Venezuela," Sa’ar stated at the time.

The humanitarian mission comes despite years of strained relations between Israel and Venezuela under President Nicolás Maduro's government, which has repeatedly promoted anti-Israel rhetoric. Edri said the delegation's reception on the ground stood in sharp contrast to the political relationship between the two countries.