HAVANA TIMES, August 20 — Former Cuban President Fidel Castro received the Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro at his home in Havana on Tuesday. Castro congratulated Maduro for his sending a plane of assistance to the population in Gaza, reported dpa news.
In an article published in the official press, Castro stated: “I congratulated Maduro for his extraordinary solidarity with the heroic people of the Gaza Strip.”
Castro, who turned 88 on August 13, called the Israeli military offensive against Gaza a “genocide” and “holocaust” for Palestinians.
Fidel continues to be the leading advisor to his brother President Raul Castro, especially regarding foreign affairs. He refrains from commenting in public about domestic issues.
Maduro is in the midst of a cabinet shuffle in Venezuela as his government moves to take drastic measures to confront the difficult economic situation facing the country, which includes acute shortages of basic consumer items.
Fidel Castro was like a father and mentor to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and it is suspected that he, and his brother Raul, play a key advice-giving role with Maduro.