In a developing diplomatic dispute, Colombia has formally requested that Israel recall its ambassador, Gali Dagan, from the South American nation.
This request stems from President Gustavo Petro’s comments regarding the conflict with Hamas, which Israel found deeply offensive. Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva asserted that Ambassador Dagan should, at the very least, issue an apology and depart the country in light of the criticism he had directed towards Petro.
Leyva expressed his displeasure with Israel’s response on social media, labeling it as “rude” and adding, “Shame.”
The source of contention arose when President Petro compared Israeli military actions in Gaza to the historical persecution of Jews during the Nazi era. He specifically accused Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of using language resembling what the Nazis employed against the Jewish people.
The conflict in question began when members of the terrorist group Hamas infiltrated across the Gaza border on October 7, resulting in a brutal and tragic onslaught across southern Israel. This incursion resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 individuals, primarily civilians, and the capture of around 200 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a bombing campaign targeting Hamas facilities, which led to the deaths of at least 2,750 people in the Gaza Strip.
President Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, emphasized the importance of preventing any resurgence of Nazism in international politics
This statement further fueled the tensions between the two nations.
As the diplomatic spat escalated, Israel announced that it was suspending security exports to Colombia. This decision held significant weight, given that Israel had been a key supplier of arms to Colombia’s military.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lior Haiat, summoned Colombia’s ambassador, Margarita Manjarrez, over Petro’s remarks, which he described as “hostile and antisemitic.” He expressed astonishment at the president’s statements and accused Petro of expressing support for Hamas’ actions, exacerbating antisemitism, and endangering the peace of the Jewish community in Colombia.
In response to Haiat’s statement, Petro said his country does not support “genocide.”
“If we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we suspend them,” he added.
Colombia’s armed forces have historically used Israeli-made weaponry and aircraft in their protracted struggles against leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, and drug cartels. The nation maintains a history of robust diplomatic and military ties with both Israel and the United States.
The dispute between President Petro and Ambassador Dagan also played out on social media, with Dagan urging Petro to condemn what he referred to as a “terrorist attack against innocent civilians.”
Petro, in response, defined terrorism as the killing of innocent children, regardless of the location, be it Colombia or Palestine.
“Terrorism is to kill innocent children, whether it be in Colombia or in Palestine,” he said.
Dagan extended an invitation to Petro to visit the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem and the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, a proposal that the president dismissed, implying that similar events were taking place in Gaza. Petro stressed that no democratic nation should tolerate the transformation of Gaza into a concentration camp.
Initially, Colombia’s foreign ministry had issued a statement strongly condemning the terrorism and attacks against Israeli civilians and expressing solidarity with Hamas’ victims. However, this statement’s link was later disabled, and a subsequent version omitted any reference to “terrorism.”