{"id":540442,"date":"2026-07-14T05:41:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T05:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/540442\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T05:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T05:41:11","slug":"honduras-president-asked-for-help-israel-sent-eye-surgeons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/540442\/","title":{"rendered":"Honduras\u2019 president asked for help, Israel sent eye surgeons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Relations between Honduras<\/a> and Israel have warmed rapidly in recent months, with President Nasry \u201cTito\u201d Asfura leading a dramatic shift in Tegucigalpa\u2019s policy toward Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

As part of the growing relationship, Israel responded to a personal request from Asfura by sending an emergency ophthalmology mission to treat Hondurans suffering from serious eye conditions.<\/p>\n

\"\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d0<\/a>\"\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d0<\/p>\n

Honduran President Nasry Asfura meets Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar during his visit to Israel <\/p>\n

(Photo: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO)<\/p>\n

The Israeli delegation completed the first stage of its work Tuesday after treating 155 patients who had been waiting for medical assistance. Of those, 136 successfully underwent eye surgery.<\/p>\n

The mission is expected to be followed by additional medical equipment, professional training and another Israeli delegation later this year.<\/p>\n

Asfura, who comes from a family of Palestinian origin, has overseen a sharp change in Honduras\u2019 foreign policy since his election. His government has altered the country\u2019s voting pattern at the United Nations in Israel\u2019s favor and announced its withdrawal from the Hague Group.<\/p>\n

The coalition, led by South Africa and established in January 2025, seeks to coordinate legal and diplomatic action against Israel. Honduras\u2019 departure is viewed in Jerusalem as a positive development in Israel\u2019s efforts to counter such initiatives.<\/p>\n

The medical mission began taking shape during Asfura\u2019s visit to Israel in January, shortly before he was sworn into office.<\/p>\n

During a meeting with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar, the president-elect asked Israel to provide urgent ophthalmological assistance to Honduran citizens.<\/p>\n

Honduras has high rates of glaucoma and cataracts and faces a severe shortage of surgeons and suitable medical equipment.<\/p>\n

\"\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05d7<\/a>\"\u05e0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05d7<\/p>\n

Sa\u2019ar approved the request and instructed MASHAV, Israel\u2019s international development agency, to organize a delegation of eye specialists.<\/p>\n

The mission was assembled with the Israeli Embassy in Honduras, led by Ambassador Nadav Goren, Sheba Medical Center and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.<\/p>\n

Israeli experts worked alongside local medical teams, treating complex cases while also providing professional training intended to strengthen Honduras\u2019 medical capabilities after the delegation leaves.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite the differences in working methods, equipment and medical practice, professional and personal ties were formed with the local medical team within a very short time,\u201d said Dr. Emanuel Schwalb, a senior surgeon from Sheba Medical Center who joined the mission.<\/p>\n

He described the Honduran doctors and medical workers as dedicated and welcoming professionals.<\/p>\n

At a ceremony marking the opening of the mission, Honduran Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Garc\u00eda expressed appreciation for Israel\u2019s assistance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are convinced that the partnership between the countries will continue to grow stronger, and we appreciate the commitment of our friends from Israel,\u201d Garc\u00eda said.<\/p>\n

Goren said the mission was a direct response to Asfura\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Israel, it is a privilege to place the knowledge and experience of our finest medical professionals at the disposal of the Honduran people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The current delegation is only the first stage of a broader Israeli assistance program.<\/p>\n

Advanced equipment for treating glaucoma is expected to be sent to Honduras in August. A second medical delegation is scheduled to arrive in November, alongside a program to train local emergency teams in responding to mass-casualty incidents.<\/p>\n

The initiative reflects Israel\u2019s growing use of medical and humanitarian assistance as a diplomatic tool in Latin America, where recent political changes have created opportunities to rebuild relationships damaged under previous governments.<\/p>\n

The rapprochement with Honduras is part of a broader political shift across Latin America.<\/p>\n

Governments in countries including Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia that had taken hostile positions toward Israel or severed diplomatic ties have been replaced by right-wing or center-right administrations that view Jerusalem as a potential ally and strategic partner.<\/p>\n

\"\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d7\u05ea<\/a>\"\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d7\u05ea<\/p>\n

Israeli Home Front Command representatives with Venezuelan President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s Foreign Ministry sees the regional changes as a historic diplomatic opportunity and is working to use the momentum to restore and institutionalize ties.<\/p>\n

The ministry has moved to appoint an Israeli ambassador to Colombia following an extended unilateral rupture in relations and an ambassador to Bolivia after the recent restoration of diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n

Israel has also hosted dozens of Latin American delegations and arranged a series of high-level diplomatic visits.<\/p>\n

Alongside those political efforts, Israeli personnel are continuing to operate on the ground across the region.<\/p>\n

A joint delegation from the Foreign Ministry and the IDF Home Front Command is currently working in Venezuela under the leadership of retired Brig. Gen. Yossi Pinto.<\/p>\n

The team is assisting local authorities in rehabilitating infrastructure in areas damaged by a severe earthquake. Its stay in Venezuela was recently extended at the request of acting President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n

For Israel, the eye-care mission in Honduras demonstrates how practical assistance can turn a diplomatic opening into a visible partnership, delivering immediate medical care while laying the groundwork for a broader long-term relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Relations between Honduras and Israel have warmed rapidly in recent months, with President Nasry \u201cTito\u201d Asfura leading a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":540443,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[85,46,43],"class_list":["post-540442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-israel","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/540443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}