Colombia suspends relations with Israel

Following the Colombian President's statements, the Ambassador to Tel Aviv was summoned to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response to Petro's remarks, Israel halted military exports to Colombia, while Colombian President Petro announced that he has "suspended foreign relations with Israel."

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Israel has summoned Colombia's Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Margarita Menjarez, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to statements made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding the attacks on Gaza.

Petro's criticism of Israel's response to the attacks launched by Hamas was met with a reaction from the Tel Aviv administration.

According to a written statement from the office of Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Ambassador Yonatan Peled, Deputy Director General for Latin American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summoned Menjarez to the ministry under Cohen's instructions.

ISRAEL HALTS MILITARY EXPORTS TO COLOMBIA

During the meeting, the dissatisfaction with Petro's statements was conveyed to Menjarez.

Peled claimed during the meeting that Petro's statements, "which caused a shock in Israel," fueled antisemitism, harmed representatives of the State of Israel, and threatened the lives of the Jewish community in Colombia.

According to the statement, Israel halted military exports to Colombia in response to Petro's remarks.

RELATIONS SUSPENDED

Following Israel's decision to stop the export of security materials to Colombia, Colombian President Gustavo Petro decided to "suspend foreign relations with Israel."

In a statement on his X social media account, Petro noted the following:

"If we need to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we will. We do not support genocide. The President of Colombia cannot be insulted. I invite Latin America to show real solidarity with Colombia. As in the Chaco War, the accumulation of history will have the final say. Neither Yair Klein nor Raifal Eithan will be able to tell us what the history of peace in Colombia is. They started the massacre and genocide in Colombia. I ask the people of Israel to help with peace in Colombia, and for peace in Palestine and the world."

Recalling Colombia's heroes of independence, Petro continued:

"As Bolivar and Narino taught us, Colombia is a sovereign, independent, and just people. One day, the Israeli army and government will ask us for forgiveness for the genocide their men started. I will embrace them, and they will weep for the slaughter in Auschwitz and Gaza."

HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA

On the other hand, Petro stated that they have decided to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and will consult with Egypt for support.

Petro also called for an extraordinary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, stating, "Finally, the European Union (EU) is reminding Israel of international law. Systematic attacks on civilians are prohibited. Genocides are prohibited. Health and hospital personnel must be protected. The minimum requirements for life must be protected."

PETRO'S SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE

In a statement on his X social media account on October 9, Petro had criticized the way Israel responded to Hamas's attack.

Sharing photos of Palestinian children who lost their lives as a result of Israeli attacks on his social media account, Petro had stated, "The only way for Palestinian children to sleep in peace is for Israeli children to sleep in peace. The only way for Israeli children to sleep in peace is for Palestinian children to sleep in peace."

News Source: AA