In a significant move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the establishment of a Colombian embassy in Ramallah, the administrative capital of Palestine, according to Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.
\"President Petro has given the order that we open the Colombian embassy in Ramallah, the representation of Colombia in Ramallah, that is the next step we are going to take,\" Murillo announced to journalists on Wednesday.
This decision marks Colombia's increased support for Palestinian statehood, with Murillo expressing optimism that more countries will recognize Palestine before the United Nations.
Earlier this month, President Petro recalled the Colombian ambassador from Tel Aviv and declared the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel in response to its actions in Gaza. The embassy in Tel Aviv was officially closed on May 3.
Petro has been a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Colombia to support South Africa's accusations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In reaction to Colombia's diplomatic shift, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz labeled Petro as \"anti-Semitic and full of hate,\" accusing him of rewarding Hamas.
Colombia is not the first country in Latin America to cut ties with Israel; Bolivia severed relations last October, and other nations like Chile and Honduras have also recalled their ambassadors.
The United Nations General Assembly recently backed Palestine's bid to become a full UN member, recommending that the UN Security Council reconsider the matter. However, the proposal is expected to face a U.S. veto if brought to the council again.
Since October 7, Israel has intensified its operations against Hamas in Gaza, resulting in nearly 36,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry. International criticism has mounted against Israel's actions, particularly concerning the disruption of aid to southern Gaza and the displacement of 900,000 people, which has heightened tensions with neighboring Egypt.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
