Nayib Bukele on Israel-Palestine Conflict

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, who is of Palestinian ancestry, adopted a strongly pro-Israel position following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. He took to social media to state that the best outcome for the Palestinian people would be the complete disappearance of Hamas, characterizing the militants as "savage beasts" who do not represent Palestinians. His administration has equated supporting Hamas with siding with domestic terrorist groups, specifically drawing a comparison to Salvadoran gangs like MS-13, against whom his government has waged a major crackdown. This stance aligned his country with nations offering firm support to Israel following the initial assault, contrasting sharply with many other Latin American leaders who adopted more critical or neutral positions regarding Israel's subsequent military actions in Gaza.

This alignment with Israel has been noted as serving a domestic political purpose for the president, possibly to gain international legitimacy for his controversial domestic security policies and authoritarian tendencies. While some regional actors recalled ambassadors or broke diplomatic ties with Israel in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, El Salvador, under Bukele, voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for a humanitarian truce. This consistent support signals a commitment to a relationship with Israel, regardless of the ongoing conflict's broader regional diplomatic context.