Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a far-left leader, declared on Wednesday that he would end diplomatic relations with Israel on Thursday due to what he referred to as a “genocide” in Gaza. This announcement was made during a government event to mark International Workers’ Day.
Petro has been critical of Israel for its military actions against the Hamas terrorist group, labeling them as acts of genocide. He has previously threatened to sever ties with Israel for the same reason, causing strain on the historically friendly relationship between the two countries.
Following his latest announcement, Hamas praised Petro’s decision and called for other Latin American nations to follow suit. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned Petro’s actions, accusing him of siding with terrorists who commit heinous acts.
This move by Petro comes after a series of inflammatory statements comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and accusing them of running concentration camps in Gaza. In response to these remarks, Israel halted its security exports to Colombia, impacting the country’s fight against terrorist groups like FARC and ELN.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the trade agreement between Colombia and Israel, which allows for the easy export of various goods between the two nations. Petro’s actions have led to tensions between the countries, jeopardizing their longstanding relationship.
