Venezuela has broken off diplomatic relations with Israel to protest its military offensive in Gaza.The decision by President Hugo Chavez's socialist government comes more than a week after it expelled the Israeli ambassador in Caracas and seven embassy staff members.
A Foreign Ministry statement said Wednesday that Venezuela "has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Israel given the inhumane persecution of the Palestinian people."
Israel launched the offensive in Gaza on Dec. 27, seeking to force the ruling Hamas militant group to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel. Palestinian authorities say strikes have killed at least 1,025 of their people. Thirteen Israelis have been killed.