Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has announced that the country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over its ‘genocidal’ actions in Gaza. Petro, who has already criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past, made the announcement on International Worker’s Day while addressing a crowd of supporters in Bogota.
Colombia goes bold
The move comes after Colombia recalled its ambassador to Israel in May 2024 following the violent conflict between Israel and Palestine. Petro’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Israel is seen as a bold move that could influence other Latin American countries to take similar steps.
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has accused Petro of being “antisemitic and full of hate” and described his move as a reward to Hamas, the armed group that led the attack on Israeli military bases and communities in October 2023.
Several other Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Chile, and Honduras, have either recalled their ambassadors or previously broken diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Colombia’s decision is significant as it is one of Israel’s closest allies in the region and has maintained diplomatic ties with Israel for decades.
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The Colombian government’s decision is expected to draw criticism from Israel’s allies and supporters, but Petro emphasized that countries cannot remain passive in the face of events in Gaza. The move is also seen as a victory for pro-Palestinian activists who have been calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
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