Full Breakdown
Uruguay’s Broad Front Backs Pro-Palestinian March in Montevideo
By Drooid · · How we work
Broad Front Endorses October 8 Demonstration
The governing Frente Amplio unanimously approved a pro-Palestinian rally to take place in central Montevideo on October 8, urging supporters to gather at 6:30 p.m. and march toward Plaza Independencia. Organizers from Coordinación por Palestina en Uruguay will promote the event under the slogan “Free Palestine or barbarism.” In its resolution, the Broad Front accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing “genocide” in Gaza and pledged to join international demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians.
Political Background and Recent Strains
President Yamandú Orsi, who assumed office in 2025, has traditionally been less hostile toward Israel than many left-wing Latin American leaders. Nevertheless, his administration has faced internal friction: the Broad Front’s language on Gaza contrasts with the government’s more restrained stance. In August 2025 Uruguay suspended a cooperation agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, citing Israel’s planned operations in Gaza; the Israeli Embassy in Uruguay criticized that decision. Uruguay’s Foreign Ministry continues to endorse a two-state solution and notes uninterrupted diplomatic relations with Israel since 1948.
Official Responses and Community Impact
The Foreign Ministry describes Uruguay’s ties with Israel as “uninterrupted since 1948” and highlights the country’s early recognition of the Israeli state. Meanwhile, Jewish community representatives reported a November 2025 incident in Montevideo in which two Jewish teenagers were chased and threatened, labeling it antisemitic. A 2026 study of Spanish-language social media found that antisemitic content remained above pre-October 7 levels, with Uruguay among the countries highlighted.
Data Highlights and Ongoing Concerns
The Hamas-led attack on October 7 2023 resulted in roughly 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, leading to a war that continued until a ceasefire in October 2025. The Broad Front’s march reflects heightened regional activism and underscores persistent tensions between Uruguay’s domestic politics, its diplomatic posture, and the safety of its Jewish community.