Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the current government’s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Israel, stating the move “applauds the Gaza genocide.” The statement, reported on August 23, follows the new administration’s reversal of a policy enacted two years ago under Petro, which had severed official ties between the two nations.
In a public comment reported by Al Jazeera, Petro linked the restoration of ties directly to the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the report, Petro’s position is that re-establishing a diplomatic relationship with Israel under its current government is an endorsement of its military operations in Gaza.
The criticism from the former president was issued after Colombia’s current administration formally re-established diplomatic ties with Israel. This action marks a notable shift in foreign policy compared to the preceding government.
In 2024, then-President Petro’s administration announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel. The new government’s decision effectively nullifies that policy, reopening formal channels of communication and diplomacy between Bogotá and Tel Aviv.
As of this report, the current Colombian government has not issued a public statement responding to Petro’s comments or detailing the specific reasons for its policy change. The Israeli government has also not released a public statement on the matter.
