by At the High Level Conference Call to Action: Urgent humanitarian response for GazaColombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo ratified the position of the national government regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict due to the attack by the Hamas terrorist group on October 7, 2023.
Nine months after the event, Colombia is one of the few countries that took a clear position. “The country broke diplomatic relations with Israel as a sign of our condemnation of actions that constitute war crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” said Foreign Minister Murillo.
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For the senior official, the decision of the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, responds to the initiative to set a precedent and condemn warlike acts against human rights and prevent disputes of this type from occurring again in the world, he assured.
During the event he also stated that Palestine faces a “genocide.” Likewise, he described the war in that territory as “unequal,” since it has escalated to “absurd levels,” aggravating the difficulties in receiving humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip from the United Nations.
Given this panorama, Foreign Minister Murillo affirmed that the suffering of the thousands of Gazan refugees is unacceptable and requires immediate and urgent actions led by the national community. Likewise, he recalled that Colombia took action against Israel’s attacks against Hamas terrorist targets – the terrorist group uses schools and hospitals in Gaza for its hideouts – and its failure to comply with the measures dictated by the International Court of Justice that ordered Israel to avoid actions. that lead to genocide.
The official also highlighted the lack of initiative from other countries aligned in favor of the Palestinian people. “We have supported a constant and firm call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and unhindered access for humanitarian aid,” said the chancellor.
Another of the points that the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed at the conference was the support of the Colombian State for the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which approved the arrest of the top leaders of the Israeli Government and Hamas for crimes against humanity.
“We all need to comply with the norms of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and public international law,” assured against the measure. In addition to emphasizing the United States ceasefire resolution for Gaza approved by the UN Security Council.
“We support that effort and encourage everyone to support it. “This is a resolution in the right direction and it is very important and crucial at this time,” he stated. Likewise, Murillo confirmed that the country will financially support the humanitarian operations of the UN Mission in the Middle Eastern country through the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
To make this possible, the country designed a humanitarian assistance action plan so that children and women receive priority care. This initiative will come into effect in mid-June 2024. Foreign Minister Murillo maintained that the measure responds to “our moral and legal duty to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable people and work tirelessly for a world where tolerance, peace and mutual respect.”
In his opinion, the events that occurred in the Gaza Strip are inhumane and unacceptable. For this reason, he considers that “it is our duty to do everything necessary to protect life and peace and avoid human suffering.”
After announcing the break in relations between Colombia and Israel by decision of President Petro on Wednesday May 1, former president Iván Duque spoke on his X account: “Breaking relations with Israel is an enormous clumsiness, just as validating Hamas terrorism has been. “No one disputes that a structural solution to a historical conflict is required through the construction of two States, as established since the Oslo agreements.”
In that sense, Iván Duque added: “Hamas has been the greatest obstacle to the construction of peace and, of course, facing this threat disguised in the civilian population has unleashed responses that break proportionality and must be avoided to protect innocent civilians.” .
The former president also explained that throughout history Colombia promoted the resolution of the conflict peacefully. Therefore, in his opinion, by not rejecting the violent acts of the terrorist group, the head of state implicitly sided with the group classified as terrorist.
Another argument presented by the former president is the negative consequences of the decision, among the most important of which is the loss of a key ally in terms of military cooperation and security, as well as the adverse effects on trade and investment. Likewise, the breakdown of relations will put at risk trade agreements, the arrival of Israeli investment in the country and will affect the country’s international image.
Following the announcement by the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, not to export more coal to Israel until it complies with the provisions of the international treaty of nations, the president of Analdex, Javier Diaz, assured that the decision goes against what is established. in the Political Constitution and the National Development Plan (2022-2026).
“The draft decree establishing a ban on coal exports to Israel is in violation of the Political Constitution and the National Development Plan, which is why it would be crossing these red lines,” he assured.
The union leader also mentioned that the measure deeply affects the national economy; since, in 2023, The export of coal to the Israeli State represented more than 446,000,000 dollars, which meant a drop of 57%.
“Due to the arguments presented and in accordance with the considerations of the bill, which proposes the prohibition of exports to Israel, it is concluded that said measure does not conform to the constitutional mandate nor is it based on a commercial policy reason,” said the president of Analdex.
