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// DOSSIER — ex-colombian-president-gustavo-petro-condemns-restoration-ties
Ex-Colombian President Gustavo Petro Condemns Restoration of Ties with Israel
REL_TIME: 24 Aug 2026 10:12Z · LANG: EN
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly criticized his country's new right-wing government, led by President Abelardo de la Espriella, for restoring diplomatic ties with Israel. In a video message released on August 23, 2026, Petro argued that reestablishing relations while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power equates to applauding the genocide in Gaza. Petro highlighted heavy civilian casualties in Gaza, emphasized Colombia's own history with violence, and called for full sovereignty for both Israel and Palestine.
// Background
Colombia severed diplomatic ties with Israel on May 3, 2024, in response to Israeli military actions in Gaza under former President Gustavo Petro, who later instructed the opening of a Colombian Embassy in Ramallah. Following a change in leadership, President Abelardo de la Espriella's right-wing government moved to restore bilateral relations.
// Key Developments
- Former President Gustavo Petro claimed restoring relations with Israel under Netanyahu's administration applauds genocide in Gaza.
- Petro cited high casualty numbers among women and infants in Gaza as the rationale for opposing diplomatic normalization.
- The new right-wing Colombian administration of Abelardo de la Espriella pledged to reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel, reversing Petro's prior foreign policy.
- Petro reiterated his support for guaranteed full sovereignty for both the states of Israel and Palestine.
// Timeline
-
Colombia officially severs diplomatic relations with Israel over military attacks in Gaza.
-
President Gustavo Petro orders Colombian authorities to open an embassy in Ramallah.
-
Gustavo Petro criticizes President Abelardo de la Espriella's pledge to reestablish ties with Israel as an insult to national honor.
-
Petro releases a video message warning that restoring diplomatic ties under Prime Minister Netanyahu equates to applauding genocide.
// Perspectives
[Gustavo Petro (Former President of Colombia)]
Strongly opposes restoring diplomatic relations with Israel while Benjamin Netanyahu is prime minister, characterizing normalization as complicity in genocide.
[Abelardo de la Espriella (President of Colombia) / New Colombian Government]
Favors restoring diplomatic relations with Israel, reversing the severance initiated by the previous administration.
// Quotes
“Establishing relations with Israel while the Netanyahu government is in power means applauding a genocide in which 22,000 babies have been killed.”
“an insult to national honor”
