Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused his country’s new right-wing government of endorsing what he describes as genocide in Gaza by restoring diplomatic relations with Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gustavo Petro, who severed Colombia’s diplomatic ties with Israel during his presidency, said the recent decision by the new administration to restore those ties is a direct endorsement of actions he calls genocide.
In a statement, Petro asserted that reestablishing relations with Israel while Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power effectively “applauds the Gaza genocide.” His remarks come after Colombia’s newly installed right-wing government moved to restore ties two years after Petro broke them off.
The restoration marks a significant reversal in Colombia’s foreign policy, reversing the previous administration’s stance. Petro, a leftist and former guerrilla member, had been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Petro’s criticism underscores the deep political divide over Israel in Colombia, as the new government signals a return to closer relations with the Jewish state.
