Photo: Presidency of Colombia.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that the state is suspending arms contracts with Israel following the aid distribution tragedy in Gaza. On February 29, Gaza's Health Ministry reported that more than 100 Palestinians were killed by IDF artillery fire while waiting for food distribution.
“More than 100 Palestinians were murdered by Netanyahu while begging for food. This is called genocide and reminds us of the Holocaust, even if the world powers don’t like to acknowledge it.” The world must block Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Colombia is suspending all arms purchases from Israel,” the Colombian president said.
Relations between Colombia and Israel have been strained by Bogota's stance on the situation in the Gaza Strip. In December 2023, Petro joined the voices of several world leaders that the government of Israel must change to pave the way for peace in the Middle East. Likewise, Bogota was among the countries that supported South Africa's lawsuit before the International Court of Justice against the Israeli state for “genocide” due to the situation in the Palestinian enclave.
On February 29, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that some 104 people died and another 760 were injured during the delivery of humanitarian aid. Dr. Mohamad Salha, deputy director of Al-Awda Hospital, said there were many injuries in the reception and emergency room, so there are fears the death toll will rise.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in turn, reported a “violent crowd” around the trucks carrying humanitarian aid, with Palestinians looting them. The Israeli army also shared a video from the crime scene.
(With information from Sputnik Mundo)