Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the country’s decision to break diplomatic relations with Israel due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Associated Press reports.
Petro’s announcement came during an International Workers’ Day march in Colombia’s capital, where he declared, “If Palestine dies, humanity dies, and we are not going to let it die.” He reiterated his condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing them as “genocide.” He had previously suspended weapons purchases from Israel and likened the country’s actions to those of Nazi Germany.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned Petro’s comments on X, accusing him of siding with “the most despicable monsters known to mankind” and criticized Petro’s decision to sever ties with Israel.
Despite past military ties and a free trade agreement, relations have cooled since Petro’s election as Colombia’s first leftist president in 2022. Colombia has used Israeli-built warplanes and weapons in its fight against drug cartels and rebel groups.
