Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes carry out two airstrikes on the outskirts of the town of Nabi Sheet in eastern Lebanon, near the Syrian border
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a series of airstrikes targeting the hills surrounding the town of Shmestar, west of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon
Colombia: President Gustavo Petro: Trump's insult to myself and Colombia is no longer aimed at achieving an effective counter-drug strategy
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.

Petro expels Israeli diplomats, ends free trade amid Israeli piracy

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Oct 2025 08:29
  • 8 Shares
3 Min Read

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expels the Israeli diplomatic delegation after two Colombian nationals were detained aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Listen
  • x
  • Petro expels Israeli diplomats after detention of Colombians on GSF.
    Colombia's President Gustavo Petro gives a statement during a forum on democracy and multilateralism at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, Chile, on July 21, 2025. (AP)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of "Israel’s" entire diplomatic delegation from Bogota on Wednesday, following reports that two Colombian nationals were detained by the Israeli Navy while participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) en route to Gaza.

Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto were among hundreds of international activists and aid workers aboard the flotilla, which organizers say was cut off 150 nautical miles off the coast. According to the Global Movement to Gaza, Israeli vessels surrounded the ships at 23:59 UTC, which the group said was “a violation of international law and the Geneva Accords.”

Read more: Greta Thunberg arrested as 'Israel' intercepts Gaza aid Flotilla

Petro slams Israeli international crimes

Petro reacted sharply, warning that the detention amounted to “a new international crime by Benjamin Netanyahu.”

He added that Colombia’s Free Trade Agreement with "Israel" is “immediately denounced", building on earlier calls to suspend economic ties.

“Any remaining diplomatic representatives of Israel must leave Colombian territory immediately,” Petro declared in a post on X. He also directed the Foreign Ministry to pursue legal action in Israeli courts and called on international lawyers to support Colombia’s case.

Related News

Colombian President Petro vows legal action over US drug allegations

US announces 8th strike on alleged narcotics boat, 1st in the Pacific

Read more: Mass demonstrations after Israeli occupation attacks Sumud flotilla

'Hitler is still alive'

In sharp criticism of Netanyahu, Petro, who had called for an international army to fight Israeli crimes at a rally in New York, said, “Hitler is alive in world politics.”

“Let us hope that the people are anesthetized,” he concluded.

Si es cierta está información, hay un nuevo crimen internacional de Netanyahu.

Han sido detenidas en aguas internacionales dos ciudadanas colombianas que estaban en actividades de solidaridad humana con Palestina

Cancillería debe hacer todas las demandas respectivas, incluso…

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 1, 2025

Meanwhile, the Israeli Navy confirmed intercepting the flotilla, claiming the vessels were entering an active combat zone under a legal naval blockade. It said crews were instructed to divert to the port of Isdud and claimed that aid could be delivered to Gaza “through established and verifiable channels.”

Read more: Colombia unveils 'Miranda' rifle, marking break from Israeli arms

Petro's proactive support of Palestine

The Global Sumud Flotilla, comprised of more than 40 vessels, set sail in September to deliver food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies directly to Gaza in defiance of the Israeli blockade. Despite the mission being a civilian solidarity effort, Israelis assert that the blockade is a necessary security measure, even as it targets food, essential supplies, medicine, and water.

Tensions have mounted as multiple flotilla vessels were intercepted, raided, and in some cases damaged, with dozens of activists detained. No deaths have been reported, though flotilla leaders have stressed "Israel's" use of harassment tactics, including communication jamming and drone intimidation.

President Petro has been one of "Israel’s" fiercest critics in Latin America. He has already severed diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv and banned Colombian coal exports to "Israel", denouncing the war in Gaza as genocide. His stance has led to deepening rifts with the United States, culminating in the Trump administration’s recent revocation of his US visa following pro-Palestine demonstrations outside the UN General Assembly.

Read more: US revokes Colombian President Petro’s visa after Gaza protest

  • Colombia
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation forces
  • Bogota
  • Israeli war crimes
  • Global Sumud Flotilla
  • Gaza
  • Gustavo Petro
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Politics

Jewish figures call for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS