Colombia to Cut Diplomatic Ties with Israel Over Actions in Gaza

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday that his country would cut diplomatic ties with Israel starting May 2, 2024, over what the leader considered as “genocidal” acts in Gaza.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) diplomatic relations with the state of Israel will be severed... for having a genocidal president," Petro told a May Day rally in Bogota -- referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The announcement means that the Israeli ambassador to Bogotá, Gali Dagan, and his staff have 72 hours to leave Colombia after being officially notified by the Foreign Ministry.

Petro decided to cut ties when the military campaign led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Palestinian enclave entered its seventh month since October 2023.

Israeli attacks have killed at least 34,568 people and injured 77,765 others in Gaza, after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

Israeli troops also destroyed various important civilian infrastructure, causing the health sector and other sectors in Gaza to collapse. The strict blockade and obstruction of the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with residents having difficulty getting food, clean water, and sanitation.

Israel has been accused of genocide for its actions in Gaza. Hearing a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in January ordered Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide under Genocide Convention 194.

“We agree that the era of genocide and the extermination of entire nations cannot happen again before our eyes. If Palestine dies, then humanity dies too. We will not let humanity die," Petro said, quoted by state television channel Senal Colombia.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Petro's decision to cut diplomatic ties. Katz said the president was antisemitic and had sided with Hamas.

“Relations between Israel and Colombia have always been warm, and no antisemitic and hate-filled president can change that," he wrote on social media X (formerly Twitter).

Relations between Colombia and Israel

Petro is one of the world leaders who strongly opposes Israel's attacks on Gaza. The leftist president has several times accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Days after the Israeli attacks began in October, Israel announced that it was stopping security exports to Colombia. Israel announced the decision after Petro said the language used by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to speak about the people of Gaza was similar to what “Nazis said about Jews”.

After that, the Colombian government asked the Israeli envoy in Bogotá to leave the country. Colombia has also recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and suspended arms sales with Israel in February.

Colombia, along with neighboring Brazil, supported South Africa's lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ in The Hague and said the attack on Gaza was a violation of the Genocide Convention.

NDTV | SENAL COLOMBIA

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