Viña del Mar hosts Palestinian photography exhibition amid diplomatic tension

The photography exhibition ‘Palestine: Anatomy of a Genocide’ by Palestinian photojournalist Belal Khaled has opened at the Municipal Theater in Viña del Mar, Chile. Curated by Bruno Salas Zarzar and organized by the Municipality of Viña del Mar and the Palestinian Information Center (CIP), the collection documents the first 200 days of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, focusing on civilian casualties, community destruction, and the resilience of the population. The exhibition will remain open to the public until September 6.

Prior to the opening, Israel’s ambassador to Chile, Peleg Lewi, criticized the exhibition, claiming it promotes ‘hate speech and claims based on lies.’ The CIP responded by stating that such preemptive criticism serves as a form of intimidation against those documenting the conflict.

In response to the ambassador's comments, the Chile–Palestine Friendship Group of the Senate expressed concern regarding his conduct. Senators Sergio Gahona and Diego Ibáñez stated that these remarks exceed the scope of diplomatic representation and have requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs take measures to protect the sovereignty and autonomy of Chilean institutions.