President Gustavo Petro of Colombia has made a bold move by announcing the severing of diplomatic ties with Israel. This decision comes as a result of Israeli prosecution of the war in Gaza, with President Petro going as far as describing the Israeli government as “genocidal” and stating that if Palestine dies, humanity dies.
Colombia now joins Bolivia as the second South American nation to cut ties with Israel. Bolivia made a similar decision in November following Israeli strikes in Gaza. Israel’s foreign minister has denounced President Petro’s move, calling it a choice to stand with “abominable monsters” who commit atrocities.
President Petro had previously threatened to cut ties with Israel in March if it did not comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution for a cease-fire in Gaza. In February, Colombia also suspended the purchase of Israeli weapons after a tragic incident involving the shooting of Palestinians near aid trucks in Gaza.
President Petro has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has called for other countries to do the same. Overall, his decision to sever diplomatic ties with Israel highlights the growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the ongoing conflict in the region. With two South American nations now taking a stand against Israel, it will be interesting to see if more countries follow suit in the future.
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