After cutting off diplomatic relations with Israel following the war in Gaza, the Colombian government announced today (Thursday) that it has decided to open a new embassy in Ramallah. This is another step in the country's anti-Israel policy, after it recognized a Palestinian state in 2018.
According to the announcement of the Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, the decision was made by President Gustavo Petro. "This representation of Colombia in Ramallah is the next step we are taking," he was quoted as saying. He also said that he, "hopes and expects that other countries in the world" will recognize a Palestinian state, as Spain, Ireland and Norway did last night.
As you may recall, at the beginning of this month Petro announced that he was cutting off diplomatic relations with Israel following its "actions in Gaza." Petro claimed that "the era of genocide, of the destruction of an entire nation before our eyes, cannot return. If the Palestinians die, all of humanity will die with them. States cannot be passive in the face of the events in the Strip."
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in response that, "the president of Colombia promised to give a reward to the murderers of Hamas - and he did. History will remember that Petro decided to side with the most despicable monsters known to mankind who burned babies, murdered children, raped women and kidnapped innocent civilians. Relations between Israel and Colombia have always been warm - and even an antisemitic and hateful president will not be able to change that. The State of Israel will continue to protect its citizens without fear."