Leftist President Gustavo Petro announces the severing of all diplomatic relations with Israel as of today.
Citing Israel’s invasion and crimes in Gaza, Petro says there can be no cooperation with a country ruled by a “genocidal” president and government.
– Tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel … for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal, Petro announced during an International Workers’ Day march in the country’s capital.
He compared Israel’s atrocities in Gaza to those committed by Germany during World War II and argued that the genocide must be stopped.
– If Palestine dies, humanity dies, and we are not going to let it die. Countries cannot be passive in the face of events in Gaza.
En el marco de la movilización del 1 de mayo, el Presidente @PetroGustavo anunció que romperá relaciones con Israel “aquí delante de ustedes, el Gobierno del Cambio, el Presidente de la República informa que mañana se romperán las relaciones diplomáticas con el Estado de Israel.… pic.twitter.com/BEwoC7G0GI
— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) May 1, 2024
“Despicable monsters”
Israeli officials did not respond favorably to the move. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz claimed that “history will remember that Gustavo Petro decided to side with the most despicable monsters known to mankind who burned babies, murdered children, raped women and kidnapped innocent civilians”.
Petro was one of the national leaders who was quick to criticize Israel’s invasion shortly after the Hamas attacks, and he also chose to recall the ambassador to Israel.
Historically, however, Colombia has been a close partner of Israel, buying Israeli fighter jets and machine guns to fight guerrillas and criminal gangs.
– Relations between Israel and Colombia always were warm and no antisemitic and hate-filled president will succeed in changing that. The state of Israel will continue to defend its citizens without worry and without fear, added Israel Katz.
