Colombian president's wild accusations against Israel enflame diplomatic feud, ban on arms

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled the country's Israeli envoy, Gali Dagan, over his criticism of the president's outspoken support for Palestinians and wild accusations against Tel Aviv following Hamas's invasion of Israel.

As reported by the National Review, the Israeli ambassador's criticism of Petro came after the Colombian president drew a parallel between Israeli military operations in Gaza and the Nazi persecution of Jews. Petro remarked, "Democratic nations cannot allow Nazism to reestablish itself in international politics" and added, that "no democrat in the world can accept Gaza being turned into a concentration camp".

Furthermore, Petro announced that Colombia would suspend its foreign relations with Israel, stating that Colombia does "not support genocides".

Following the president's harsh remarks becoming public, Israel, which had been one of Colombia's major arms suppliers, ceased all security exports.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat condemned the Colombian president for "expressing support for the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists, fueling antisemitism, affecting the representatives of the State of Israel, and threatening the peace of the Jewish community in Colombia".