Colombia Severs Diplomatic Ties With Israel Over Gaza Assault

The decision places Colombia alongside a growing list of nations—including South Africa, Turkey, Chile, and Bolivia—that have either recalled their ambassadors or cut ties entirely in response to the war. The conflict has resulted in over 123,000 casualties and displaced roughly 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents. Petro, a vocal critic of the offensive, previously compared the rhetoric of Israeli leadership to that of the Nazi regime and has formally requested to join South Africa's genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

This diplomatic escalation contrasts sharply with the situation at Columbia University in New York City, where administration officials have faced intense criticism for authorizing police interventions against campus protesters demanding divestment from Israel. Highlighting the disparity, attorney Steven Donziger noted that "one Colombia shows far more courage than the other Columbia." The move remains the latest development in a long-standing diplomatic feud that began in October when Bogotá first recalled its ambassador following public clashes between Petro and Israeli officials.