Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro orders opening of embassy in Ramallah, West Bank

Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the opening of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Al Jazeera reported, quoting his/her Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.

“President Petro has ordered that we open the Colombian Embassy in Ramallah, representing Colombia in Ramallah, this is the next step we are going to take,” Murillo said on Wednesday.

Murillo said he/she believed more countries would soon begin supporting the recognition of Palestinian statehood before the United Nations, with Colombia already supporting these efforts.

Earlier this month, Petro, who had already recalled the Colombian ambassador from Tel Aviv, said he/she would break diplomatic ties with Israel over the war on Gaza. The embassy was closed on 3 May, Al Jazeera reported.

Petro, the leftist leader who came to power in 2022, is considered part of a progressive wave known as the “pink tide” in Latin America. he/she has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel in the region since the beginning of the war.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Petro of being “anti-Semitic and full of hatred” following Colombia’s decision to sever ties with Israel, alleging that the move was a reward for Hamas.

In October, just days after the conflict began, Israel said it was “halting security exports” to Colombia after Petro accused Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant of using language similar to “what the Nazis said about Jews”. Was accused.

In April, Petro also requested South Africa’s involvement in the case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, Al Jazeera reported.

“Colombia’s ultimate goal in this effort is to ensure the immediate and fullest possible protection for Palestinians in Gaza, especially vulnerable populations such as women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly,” the government said.

Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, serves as the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority.

On May 10, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly supported the Palestinian bid to become a full member of the United Nations, deeming it eligible to join, and recommended the UN Security Council “favorably reconsider this matter.” .

At least 35,647 people have been killed and 79,852 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the war began, while thousands remain missing under the debris and are presumed dead. Israel launched its attack on the besieged area after a Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel killed about 1,140 people, Al Jazeera reported.

Colombia was not the first Latin American country to break ties with Israel.

Bolivia severed ties with Israel in late October last year while several other countries in Latin America, including Chile and Honduras, recalled their ambassadors.