Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday that his country would sever diplomatic ties with Israel, citing the Israeli leader’s actions during the war in Gaza as “genocidal.” Speaking at a May Day rally in Bogota, Petro criticized Israel’s conduct in the conflict and declared the imminent termination of diplomatic relations with Israel.
Petro has been a vocal critic of the war in Gaza, particularly following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7. According to Israeli figures, this attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,170 people, predominantly civilians. Petro’s condemnation of Israel’s actions led to strained relations between the two countries, with Israel announcing the suspension of security exports to Colombia in response to Petro’s accusations against Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
As Colombia’s first leftist president, Petro has been outspoken about his opposition to what he perceives as similarities between Israeli actions and historical instances of genocide. He has stated the importance of preventing the resurgence of Nazism in international politics, asserting that democratic nations must take a stand against such ideologies.
In February, Petro suspended Israeli weapons purchases in response to a tragic incident in the Palestinian territory, where dozens of people died in a scramble for food aid. Petro characterized this event as genocide, evoking comparisons to the Holocaust.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to the capture of approximately 250 hostages by Hamas militants, with 129 hostages still held in Gaza, including 34 individuals whom Israel presumes to be deceased. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of life, with the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reporting at least 34,568 fatalities, predominantly women and children.
