Colombia will cut diplomatic relations with Israel over its war in Gaza, President Gustavo Petro said announced in Bogotá on Wednesday, describing the Israeli government as “genocidal.”
His announcement came during a speech in the Colombian capital before a cheering crowd gathered for International Labor Day.
Mr. Petro said: “The era of genocide, the destruction of an entire nation, cannot come before our eyes, before our passivity.” “If Palestine dies, humanity will die.”
Colombia is the second South American country to cut ties with Israel after Bolivia cut ties in November about the attacks in Gaza. On the day Bolivia made the announcement, Colombia and Chile both said they were recalling their ambassadors to Israel and Honduras followed suit during the day. Belize also severed diplomatic relations with Israel that month.
The Israeli government denounced Petro’s move on Wednesday.
“History will remember that Gustavo Petro chose to side with the most hideous monsters known to man, who burned babies, killed children, raped women and kidnapped,” said Secretary of State Israel Katz. innocent civilians”. wrote on X. “Israel and Colombia have always had warm relations. Not even an anti-Semitic and hateful president will change that.”
Mr. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader and a critic of US drug policy towards his country, has Threaten to end the relationship with Israel in March if it fails to comply with a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. And him Call on other countries to do the same. Faced with that threat, Mr. Katz wrote on X that Mr. Petro’s “support for Hamas murderers” who have committed massacres and sexual crimes against Israelis is shameful.
“Israel will continue to protect its citizens and will not bow to any pressure or threat,” he added.
In February, Mr. Petro suspended Colombia’s purchase of Israeli weapons in February after Israeli forces opened fire while a crowd gathered near a convoy of trucks carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza City, a part of the chaotic scene that left scores dead and injured, according to Gazan health officials and the Israeli military.
“Demanding for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu,” Mr. Petro wrote on X at the time, comparing the events to the Holocaust “even if world powers did not want to admit it.”
“The world must stop Netanyahu,” he added.
