Late last year, officials in Bolivia announced that it had severed all diplomatic ties with Israel for its defensive attacks on Gaza after Oct. 7, which Townhall covered.
Bolivia "decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip," Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani said at a press conference, according to a report from Reuters.
Now, another South American country is following suit.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Wednesday he will break diplomatic relations with Israel over its actions in Gaza, according to a report from Reuters.
"Here in front of you, the government of change, of the president of the republic announces that tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel...for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal," Petro told a crowd in Bogota.
Reportedly, Petro has criticized Israel in the past and requested to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
In addition, just days after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, Israel said it would "halting security exports" to Colombia after Petro accused Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of using language about the people of Gaza similar to what the "Nazis said of the Jews,” (via Barron’s):
Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has also asserted that "democratic peoples cannot allow Nazism to reestablish itself in international politics."
In February, Petro suspended Israeli weapons purchases after dozens of people died in a scramble for food aid in the war-torn Palestinian territory -- an event he said "is called genocide and recalls the Holocaust."
Late last year, Bolivia’s stance was similar.
"We reject the war crimes being committed in Gaza. We support international initiatives to guarantee humanitarian aid, in compliance with international law," Bolivian President Arce said.
ABC noted that Bolivia, Chile, and other South American countries “made no mention of the Hamas attack on Israel” regarding their decisions to restrict ties with Israel.
