Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly criticized Israel’s bombardments of Gaza, referring to the ongoing conflict as “genocide.” In a social media post, Petro condemned the Israeli air attack on the Jabalia refugee camp, which resulted in the deaths of at least 195 people and left 120 missing. He accused Israel of attempting to remove the Palestinian people from Gaza and take control of the territory. Petro also labeled the leader responsible for this genocide as a criminal against humanity and criticized the allies of Israel for their silence on the matter.
Colombia, along with Chile, the country with the largest Palestinian population in Latin America, recalled their ambassadors to Israel in response to the violence in Gaza. Chile’s President Gabriel Boric cited Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law as the reason for this action. Bolivia went a step further and completely cut ties with Israel due to its bombardment and siege of Gaza, along with the increasing civilian casualties. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on Israel to halt its bombing campaign, expressing concern over the high number of child casualties.
Argentina, which has the largest Jewish community in Latin America, condemned Israel’s attack on the Jabalia refugee camp, stating that nothing justifies the violation of international humanitarian law. The country also called for the release of captives held by Hamas, the ruling group in Gaza. Peru and Mexico also criticized the Israeli attacks, with Peru’s foreign ministry condemning violence and Mexico’s diplomat calling for Israel to cease its claim to Palestinian territories and work towards a two-state solution.
Israel responded to these diplomatic moves by demanding that Chile and Colombia condemn Hamas instead, emphasizing their right to protect their citizens. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, accused Bolivia, Chile, and Colombia of siding with “terrorists” and being hostile toward Israel. Arab countries, including those with peace agreements with Israel, have also expressed unease with the war. Jordan recalled its ambassador from Israel and urged a halt to the war, citing the humanitarian catastrophe it is causing.
Some United Nations officials have suggested that Israel’s bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp could be considered a war crime. Craig Mokhiber, a former top UN human rights official, resigned over the organization’s response to the war in Gaza, calling Israel’s actions “textbook genocide” and criticizing the UN for failing to act. Mokhiber urged the UN to hold Israel to the same standards as other countries when assessing human rights violations.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of approximately 8,800 people, with around 3,600 children among the casualties. The bombings have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, leading to shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel. Israeli troops have intensified their presence in Gaza following three weeks of heavy air raids, causing significant destruction and displacement.
This war marks the fifth and deadliest conflict in Gaza. It was triggered by a violent incursion by Hamas into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals. Israel reported capturing about 240 people during this incursion.
In conclusion, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro’s condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” has sparked international attention and led to diplomatic tensions between various countries. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of life, particularly among children, and has raised concerns about potential war crimes. The international community is calling for an end to the violence and a focus on finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
