[Salon] Colombia expels all remaining Israeli diplomats, severs free trade agreement



https://thecradle.co/articles/colombia-expels-all-remaining-israeli-diplomats-severs-free-trade-agreement

Colombia expels all remaining Israeli diplomats, severs free trade agreement

Bogota cut ties with Tel Aviv last year and has been vocal about the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has announced sweeping diplomatic measures against Israel after its detention of two Colombian citizens who were aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Tel Aviv early on 2 October. 

The measures include expelling all remaining Israeli diplomats from the country and terminating Colombia’s free trade agreement with Israel. 

Petro said on X that the interception was “a new international crime committed by Netanyahu,” while confirming that two Colombian citizens were arrested while “engaged in humanitarian solidarity activities with Palestine.”

“The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must file all corresponding claims, including with the Israeli justice system. I call upon international lawyers to offer their services to Colombia, alongside our own legal teams. The Free Trade Agreement with Israel is hereby denounced and terminated immediately. The entire Israeli diplomatic delegation in Colombia must leave the country,” the president went on to say. 

“The United States has decided to take back the weapons that, according to them, were provided on loan – these must be immediately replaced by Colombian security forces. That was what so-called ‘aid’ meant: subjugating peoples,” Petro added. 

“Hitler is alive in today’s global politics,” the Colombian president concluded.

Earlier this week, Colombia unveiled its first domestically produced military rifle. The country is aiming to produce 400,000 in order to replace guns previously provided by Israel. 

In May 2024, Colombia announced the severing of diplomatic ties with Israel over the genocidal campaign in Gaza.

According to a source cited by AFP, only four Israeli diplomats with diplomatic status remained in Colombia after Bogota decided to cut ties with Israel in 2024. A limited consular presence of about 40 staff members continued.

Petro’s post on social media late on Wednesday came during the first stages of Israel’s operation to intercept the aid flotilla

Around 40 of the flotilla’s 47 boats have been boarded by Israeli forces so far. Hundreds of activists have been detained, including Swedish activist Greta Thunburg – who was also detained and deported during the interception of a previous aid boat earlier this year.

Irish activist Tadhg Hickey is among those who sailed to Gaza on the Sumud Flotilla, as well as French politician Marie Mesmeur and French-Palestinian European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who has also previously been detained for attempting to break the siege.

The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Spain one month ago. As it got closer to Gaza on 1 October, Israeli warships harassed the flotilla in a bid to force it to change course. Last month, several of the flotilla's boats were subjected to drone attacks.

On 30 September, Tel Aviv accused the Global Sumud Flotilla of having ties to Hamas.



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