Bogotá, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he had ordered the expulsion of all remaining members of the Israeli diplomatic mission in the country.
This comes after Israeli forces committed an “international crime” by intercepting an aid flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip.
Before this decision, only 4 Israeli diplomats remained in Colombia after President Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel last year.
Petro, who has been in power since 2022, said that Israel detained two Colombian women while they were sailing in “international waters”, calling on it to “release them immediately”.
strained relations
In 2024, Colombia severed diplomatic relations with Israel in protest against the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
However, Israel maintained a consular representation of 40 employees in the South American country, including four Israelis with diplomatic status.
In a statement, Petro stressed his rejection of “any action that harms the physical safety, freedom or human rights of Colombian citizens abroad”.
In his statement, the Colombian president also announced that he had decided to “immediately cancel the free trade agreement with Israel.”
Objection to the Al-Samoud Fleet
On Wednesday, the Israeli Navy intercepted several ships from the “Resilience Fleet”.
It was an aid flotilla that was approaching the Gaza Strip, including a ship with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board.
This came after Israel instructed the ships participating in the movement to change their course.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that the Navy stopped the advance of ships belonging to the Global Resilience Fleet heading to Gaza, which aims to break the siege imposed by Israel on the Palestinian Strip.
A Ministry post on X read: “Several ships from… The fleet has been grounded and its passengers are being transported to an Israeli port. “Greta and her friends are safe and well,” she said, referring to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who is involved in the movement.
The Global Resilience Fleet, which set off in early September from Spain, includes about 45 ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from more than 40 countries.
He transports baby milk, food and medical aid, and confirms that he is on a “peaceful and non-violent mission”.
