Colombia Severs Diplomatic Relations with Israel

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday the termination of diplomatic relations with Israel, citing Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

He stated during a Labor Day celebration in Bogota that Colombia would sever diplomatic ties with Israel the following day due to a government and prime minister engaged in genocide.

Petro criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for Colombia to join South Africa's lawsuit before the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide.

Colombia suspended arms purchases from Israel in early March in response to the "Aid Massacre," which resulted in over 100 Palestinian deaths during a humanitarian gathering in northern Gaza.

Gustavo Petro stated via the "X" platform that more than 100 Palestinians lost their lives while awaiting aid, attributing it to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and describing the attacks as a massacre of the Palestinian people.

Last November, Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel due to its attacks on Gaza. Colombia and neighboring Chile recalled their ambassadors for consultations, condemning the Israeli assaults on Gaza and denouncing the killing of Palestinians.

Bolivia was among the first countries to cut diplomatic relations with Israel due to its Gaza offensive, which was triggered by an attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel on October 7.