Colombia's Petro takes jab at Netanyahu, calls him 'criminal' at UNGA

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Sep 2024 11:14
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro also denounces the economic blockades imposed on Cuba and Venezuela.

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Colombia President Gustavo Petro Urrego addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro took a jab at Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday over the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, Petro has been a fierce critic of the Netanyahu government, announcing in May that Colombia would sever ties with "Israel" and open an embassy in Ramallah in the Palestinian territories. In June, he confirmed that coal exports to the occupation entity would be suspended "until the genocide stops."

"It is in this inequality ... that we find the logic of the mass destruction unleashed by the climate crisis and the logic of the bombs dropped by a criminal like Netanyahu on Gaza," Petro indicated during his address to the UN General Assembly.

“When Gaza dies, all of humanity will die,” he expressed. “Today we have 20,000 dead children. Presidents laugh at this situation in the UN General Assembly.”

The Colombian leader emphasized that only the voices of world powers dominate the global stage.

"The power of a country in the world is no longer exercised by political and economic power, but by destroying humanity. Those of us who have the power to sustain life speak without being paid attention to," Petro stressed.

He continued, "That is why they do not listen to us when we vote to stop the genocide in Gaza. The presidents who can destroy humanity do not listen to us."

The Colombian President further denounced the economic blockades imposed on Cuba and Venezuela.

"The powerful global oligarchy allows bombs to be dropped on Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, or allows the economic blockade of rebellious countries that do not fit into its domain, such as Cuba and Venezuela," he mentioned.

This comes as "Israel" continues its war on Gaza, murdering more than 41,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. A couple of days ago, the Israeli occupation military launched a massive aggression on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region that has killed at least 500 people, injured thousands, and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Opposing 'Israel's' genocide on Gaza is not anti-Semitism: Petro

Earlier, Petro rejected anti-Semitic accusations related to his pro-Palestine stance, arguing that anti-Semitism is manifested in the murder of Gazan children and not advocating against the ongoing Israeli genocide.

Petro countered claims by the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Deborah Lipstadt, that the President's criticism of "Israel's" aggression on Gaza was "harmful" since it "normalizes" anti-Semitism.

"Madam Ambassador, Palestinians are Semites...It is anti-Semitic to kill children by dropping bombs in Gaza and not to oppose it. The most anti-Semitic thing today is to repeat Hitler's holocaust on humanity and especially on the Palestinian people," he stated.

"I am not an anti-Semite. Do not confuse and respect. I am not anti-Jewish."

The Colombian leader condemned tens of thousands of journalists for remaining silent while their colleagues and 20,000 Palestinian children are being killed and massacred by the occupation.

"Anyone who defends this genocide or remains silent in the face of it has destroyed their own human condition," he added.