Colombia condemns 'Israel', vows to send aid to Gaza
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Following Gustavo Petro's pro-Palestine stances, "Israel" decided to stop security exports to Colombia.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego addresses the 78th session of the UNGA on September 19, 2023. (AP)
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.
On Sunday, the President announced his intention to send humanitarian aid from Colombia to Gazans, whom he announced are suffering "under a cruel siege exacerbated by the Israeli aggression."
Petro demanded that healthcare workers be protected and stressed that such attacks be condemned by the European Union, stressing the need for the EU to uphold international law.
The Colombian President also emphasized the need to protect the minimal "living requirements in Gaza," stressing that the United Nations General Assembly should hold a special session.
Read next: Aid for Gaza stuck in Egypt with Rafah crossing closed
In response to Petro's pro-Palestine stances, "Israel" decided to stop security exports to Colombia after what they dubbed as "hostile and antisemitic statements" against "Israel" made last week by the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, as per the Israeli Foreign Minister.
#BREAKING: Israel decided to stop security exports to Colombia after hostile and antisemitic statements against the State of Israel made last week by the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro - Israeli foreign minister @elicoh1 statement
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 15, 2023
Colombia's President will not be humiliated
"Israel" also summoned Colombia's Ambassador to complain about Petro's remarks and support to Gaza, according to Israeli media outlets.
Soon after Colobia's President said that he would not be subject to humiliation. Moreover, he said that his country is ready to cut ties with "Israel" if need be, adding that Colombia does not support genocide.
Petro called on Latin American countries to support his country, adding that history will have the final say on the matter.
Petro had previously stated that the only way for "Israeli children to sleep in peace is for Palestinian children to sleep in peace."
"Israel" forcefully displaces Palestinians
On his part, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the decision to renew water supplies to parts of southern Gaza was agreed on between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, highlighting the latter's complicity in the oppression of the people of Gaza.
With this move, the Israeli occupation is trying to drive the Palestinian people from northern Gaza into its South in a bid to empty the Strip's north in preparation for a ground invasion that would take the lives of thousands of people were it to take place.
This comes after the Israeli occupation army said in a statement that 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza must evacuate within the next 24 hours, hinting at plans to start a much-feared ground invasion of the devastated Strip that has been under nonstop bombing since last Saturday.
The Israeli occupation, as it pushed people out of northern Gaza, struck the convoys of civilians fleeing the territory.
Responding to the Israeli announcement, earlier, the United Nations warned that over a million people fleeing into southern Gaza would be "impossible" to take place, sounding the alarm on "devastating humanitarian consequences.”
"The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," the UN said in a statement.
Not even drinking water
Continuous Israeli airstrikes throughout the past week have devastated extensive residential areas, exacerbating the dire situation in Gaza. The region remains cut off from essential resources such as food, water, and medical supplies, all while enduring a near-complete power outage.
The number of forcefully displaced people in Gaza had risen by an additional 84,444 people and reached 423,378, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement sent on Friday.
As a result of the continued unprecedented Israeli aggression, "most residents in the Gaza Strip no longer have access to drinking water from service providers or domestic water through pipelines," OCHA said. "UNICEF reports some have already begun drinking seawater" in response to the lack of clean water, it added.
The agency also stressed that "health facilities are overwhelmed, medical stocks are in short supply and access to hospitals and medical care is being hindered by the ongoing hostilities and damaged roads." Furthermore, nearly 50,000 women in Gaza who are expected to give birth in the coming month are "struggling to access essential health services as healthcare workers, hospitals and clinics come under attack."
Palestinian Health Ministry Spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra told Al Mayadeen on Thursday that Gaza was only a few hours away from essential services completely shutting down, and the health sector is collapsing.
