In response to criticism from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia, has defended his decision to sever diplomatic ties with Israel. Petro argued that he stands against the genocide being perpetrated by Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and not for “despicable monsters” like Hamas.
Petro had announced that Colombia would cut off diplomatic relations with Israel following the Israeli Army’s offensive in Gaza Strip that led to over 34,500 Palestinian deaths. Katz accused Petro of supporting “monsters” like Hamas who have been accused of committing heinous acts. However, Petro had warned Israel that he would cut ties if they did not comply with a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite facing criticism and debate over his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Petro remains committed to seeking a peaceful resolution to the ongoing hostilities in the region. He has been actively advocating for peace and dialogue between Israel and Palestine since an outbreak of violence last October that left 1,200 people dead and 240 hostages. He proposed a peace commission to facilitate discussions and work towards releasing kidnapped individuals in Gaza.