Colombia Acting at U.N. to Overcome U.S. Veto on Gaza Genocide -- Interviews Available
In a sweeping speech, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday: “First of all, we must stop this genocide in Gaza." He added that it "cannot be stopped by words alone.” Petro outlined actions including economic sanctions and a protection force using the General Assembly’s Uniting for Peace process to overcome the U.S. veto in the Security Council. See his speech.
Also on Tuesday at the U.N., the president of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, a former general, stated that his nation would be willing to contribute 20,000 troops or more for a protection force for Gaza. He said: “We are willing to provide peacekeeping forces.” See his speech.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the UNGA on Friday at 9 a.m. Just then, a major protest -- marching from Times Square to U.N. -- is scheduled. Livefeed expected here.
VICTOR DE CURREA-LUGO, [leaves NYC Friday night] +57-320-343-0246 (on Signal and WhatsApp), decurrea@yahoo.com
Available for a limited number of interviews, Victor de Currea-Lugo is special advisor on the Mideast to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. His books include Palestine, Genocide and Resistance. He notes that this step is part of a long process over the past two years, including Colombia filing a declaration of intervention in the International Court of Justice Genocide Convention case initiated by South Africa; cutting diplomatic relations; co-chairing and hosting a major meeting of The Hague Group and Petro issuing a decree prohibiting the shipment of coal to Israel.
Colombia and Indonesia's moves were welcomed by the Palestinian NGOs Network, which noted Israel's most recent attacks on the headquarters of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and the Sumud Flotilla. Many other groups have called for such measures including StopGenocide.com.
He said today: "Trump is correct when he says the U.N. is filled with too much rhetoric and not enough action. Exhibit A is that the Security Council is paralyzed and the U.N. has failed to stop Israel's genocide in Gaza -- a genocide that Trump himself has backed." But, he added, referring to Petro's speech and the U.N.’s failure: "It seems as though that might be changing."
Jarrar is advocacy director for DAWN, founded by slain writer Jamal Khashoggi. He said today: “Colombia should submit the official Uniting for Peace resolution immediately to start this process, and the world should vote yes. The process is straightforward: Colombia should call for an emergency special session of the General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace mechanism, and a resolution should be adopted with a two-thirds majority of UNGA." He noted that this can follow "the exact precedent set with apartheid South Africa. First, suspend Israel from the General Assembly, and second, call for comprehensive economic sanctions and arms embargoes on Israel."
Another relevant precedent is the 1956 Suez crisis, which was resolved with peacekeepers using Uniting for Peace to overcome the British and French veto when those countries, along with Israel, invaded Egypt and Gaza. See U.N. page.
For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
September 26, 2025
Institute for Public Accuracy
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