Colombia Breaks Diplomatic Ties with Israel Over Gaza Conflict
In a bold move, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia announced on Wednesday that the country would be breaking diplomatic relations with Israel, becoming the third country to do so since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza. The decision comes as a response to the “enormous and indescribable human suffering” caused by the conflict, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released on Thursday.
The military offensive by Israel against Hamas in Gaza began on October 7, resulting in a devastating toll on the Palestinian population. Israeli bombings have left Gaza neighborhoods in ruins, with the threat of famine looming over its residents. As of May 1, more than 34,600 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed in the conflict, according to Hamas-controlled Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Following Colombia’s announcement, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, criticized President Petro for supporting Hamas and referred to the militant group as “the most despicable monsters known to mankind.” This move by Colombia joins previous actions taken by Belize and Bolivia, who also cut diplomatic ties with Israel over the attacks in Gaza.
Additionally, Turkey announced the suspension of all import and export transactions with Israel in protest of the war in Gaza. This decision sparked a response from Israel, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of violating trade agreements.
While Colombia, Turkey, and other countries have taken measures to express their discontent with Israel, other countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and several in North Africa and the Middle East do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is in talks with the United States and Israel for the normalization of relations, but stresses the importance of creating a path to a Palestinian state before moving forward.
The decision by Colombia to sever diplomatic ties with Israel adds to the growing international condemnation of the conflict in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.