Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has announced that his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel starting on Thursday in response to the Israeli Army’s offensive against the Gaza Strip. More than 34,500 Palestinians have already died in the conflict.
During a rally held on Workers’ Day in Bogotá, Petro made the announcement and emphasized the importance of standing in solidarity with Palestine. He stated that “if Palestine dies, humanity dies,” and expressed concern over the ongoing violence in Gaza. The President criticized Israel for their actions and threatened to sever diplomatic ties if they did not comply with a resolution approved by the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to Petro’s announcement by condemning it on social media, accusing the Colombian President of supporting Hamas and their crimes. However, Katz emphasized that the warm relations between Israel and Colombia should not be affected by the actions of the Colombian government.
Petro has been advocating for peace and dialogue between Israel and Palestine since last October when Palestinian militias launched attacks resulting in casualties and hostages. He proposed a peace commission to facilitate talks for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. Despite tensions between Colombia and Israel, Petro remains committed to promoting peace and justice in the region.
