Colombia Cuts Ties with Israel Over Gaza Conflict
In a bold move, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia announced on Wednesday that the country will sever diplomatic ties with Israel due to its prosecution of the war in Gaza. Describing the Israeli government as “genocidal,” President Petro made the announcement in Bogotá in front of cheering crowds gathered for International Workers’ Day.
“The times of genocide, of the extermination of an entire people cannot come before our eyes, before our passivity,” Mr. Petro said. “If Palestine dies, humanity dies.”
Colombia is now the second South American nation to break off relations with Israel, following Bolivia’s decision to cut ties in November over Israeli strikes in Gaza. The Israeli government has denounced President Petro’s move, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz calling him “antisemitic and hateful.”
President Petro had threatened to cut ties with Israel in March if it did not comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. He had also suspended Colombia’s purchase of Israeli weapons in February after a deadly incident where Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd near a convoy of aid trucks heading to Gaza City.
“The world must block Netanyahu,” President Petro stated, comparing the events in Gaza to the Holocaust. Israel has vowed to continue protecting its citizens and not yield to pressure or threats.
The decision by Colombia to sever ties with Israel marks a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy and adds to the growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
