Chile, Colombia recall ambassadors to 'Israel'
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After Bolivia severed ties with "Israel", Chile and Colombia recall their own ambassadors from the occupied territories, citing human rights violations and massacres.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chilean President Gabriel Boric are seen in this photo, during the Climate Ambition Summit, on September 20, 2023. (IISD/ENB)
Colombia and Chile both recalled their ambassadors from "Israel" on Tuesday, as the Israeli occupation continues its policy of committing genocide in Gaza.
The Chilean government announced that it recalled its ambassador to "Israel" for consultations, citing the occupation's violation of human rights.
"Chile strongly condemns and observes with great concern... these military operations," the Latin American country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the Israeli war on Gaza amounted to "collective punishment" of the Strip's civilian population.
The Chilean government also called for an immediate end to hostilities, and for humanitarian aid to be allowed to enter Gaza.
Ante las inaceptables violaciones del Derecho Internacional Humanitario en que ha incurrido Israel en la franja de Gaza, como Gobierno de Chile hemos resuelto llamar en consultas a Santiago al embajador de Chile en Israel, Jorge Carvajal.
— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) October 31, 2023
Chile condena enérgicamente y observa…
Colombia recalls ambassador
Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, also announced his country was recalling its ambassador to "Israel".
“If Israel does not stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we cannot remain there,” Petro wrote on X.
He decidido llamar a consulta a nuestra embajadora en Israel. Si Israel no detiene la masacre del pueblo palestino no podemos estar allá.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) November 1, 2023
Earlier, on October 16, Colombia ordered the Israeli ambassador to Bogota, Gali Dagan, to leave, over his criticism of the Colombian President's remarks in support of Palestine and Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression.
The Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva expressed that the envoy should "at a minimum, apologize and leave" after lashing out at Petro on social media, calling his remarks "rude", and adding they were a "shame".
Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the genocide committed by Israeli occupation forces against the people of Gaza and called for a United Nations special session. He also said on Sunday that he fully supports the International Criminal Court investigating Israeli war crimes in Palestine, adding that "what is happening in Gaza are crimes against humanity."
Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with 'Israel' over war crimes in Gaza
The Bolivian government announced earlier on Tuesday that it is severing diplomatic relations with "Israel". The Bolivian Foreign Ministry cited "Israel's" actions in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of committing crimes against humanity.
The call to sever ties was initially issued a week ago by former leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales, who qualified the Israeli regime as a "terror state", saying, "When we came to power after winning the elections in September/December 2005, we severed our ties with Israel due to our pacifist and anti-imperialistic principles," Morales wrote on X.
