Full Breakdown
Israeli Aid Team Assesses Venezuelan Buildings, Marks First Humanitarian Outreach Since Diplomatic Break
7/10/2026, 8:22:43 PM
Core Event: Israeli Delegation Evaluates Earthquake-Damaged Structures
Following the twin earthquakes of June 24 2024 (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) that devastated Venezuela’s northern coast, a delegation from Israel’s Home Front Command began a ten-day mission to inspect damaged residential towers, determine structural safety, and advise residents on evacuation or return. The team, led by Brig. Gen. Elad Edri, chief of staff of the Home Front Command, operates under the request of Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez and the country’s Infrastructure Ministry.
Background & Context: Severed Ties and Recent Quakes
Venezuela cut diplomatic relations with Israel in 2008 after the Gaza war, a move reinforced by former President Hugo Chávez. The June 2024 earthquakes killed at least 3,889 people, injured nearly 17,000, and left almost 18,000 homeless. The humanitarian response provides the first high-level Israeli presence in Caracas since the diplomatic rupture.
Key Figures & Groups
- Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel, who delivered a video message praising the mission.
- Elad Edri – Brigadier General, commander of the Home Front Command delegation.
- Yoed Magen – Israel’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, heading the civilian component.
- Avi Cohen – 39-year-old reserve structural-engineer from Giv’at Shmuel, conducting on-site assessments.
- Delcy Rodríguez – Interim president of Venezuela, who requested an extension of the mission.
- Gideon Sa’ar – Israeli Foreign Minister who approved the two-week extension.
- Armando De Negri Filho – PAHO official reporting burial figures.
- Jarbas Barbosa – Director of the Pan American Health Organization, highlighting health risks.
Data & Statistics
- Eight 15-story residential buildings, housing between 600 and 1,200 families, were inspected; all were declared structurally sound.
- The delegation comprises over 30 experts from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, IDF, and Home Front Command.
- Approximately 300 people remain buried and unidentified.
- The mission has been extended an additional two weeks at Rodríguez’s request.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Netanyahu told Edri and Magen that the team is “showing the people of Venezuela… the true face of the State of Israel,” emphasizing aid over political questions. Edri reported that Israeli specialists are working “day and night together with the local government and the Venezuelan Infrastructure Ministry” and expressed pride in representing Israel. Foreign Minister Sa’ar coordinated the extension, underscoring Israel’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance regardless of formal diplomatic status.
On-the-Ground Reports
Reserve officer Avi Cohen, a native Spanish speaker, described daily drives from Caracas to devastated neighborhoods, noting “destroyed homes on both sides of the road.” He highlighted the emotional impact of confirming safety for residents who had been living in tents, as well as the difficulty of informing families they must abandon unsafe dwellings.
Criticism & Opposition
No public criticism or opposing statements were recorded in the available reports.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources present a consistent casualty count and mission timeline; no contradictory figures or unaddressed gaps were identified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People say, ‘Thank God,’ ‘Thank you for coming.’ Some of them have been sleeping in tents until now because they were afraid to return home,” — Avi Cohen, Reserve Officer
- “People are afraid to return home. We explain to them that there are cracks, but the structure is intact and there is no danger. It is a great feeling of satisfaction.” — Avi Cohen, Reserve Officer
- “Sometimes we have to stand in front of a family and tell them: ‘You cannot continue living here.’ It is news that breaks their hearts.” — Avi Cohen, Reserve Officer
- “You are rebuilding ruins, and you are also rebuilding relations. You are showing the people of Venezuela, as well as the Venezuelan government, the true face of the State of Israel,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- “We didn't ask questions about who and what,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
What’s Next
The extended mission will focus on implementing a national reconstruction plan devised by Israeli engineers, continuing structural assessments, and supporting Venezuelan authorities in restoring housing and essential services.
