“If Palestine dies, humanity dies,” he mentioned to loud applause from the group, a few of whom flew pro-Palestinian banners.
Israel responded by describing Petro as “anti-Semitic and hateful”, saying his stance amounted to handing a reward to Hamas.
“The Colombian president has promised to reward Hamas murderers and rapists – and as we speak he delivered,” Overseas Minister Israel Katz mentioned on X.
“Historical past will do not forget that Gustavo Petro determined to face by probably the most despicable monsters humanity has identified, who burned infants, murdered kids, raped ladies and kidnapped harmless civilians,” Katz added.
Hamas, for its half, hailed the transfer as a “victory”.
“We drastically admire the place of Colombian President Gustavo Petro … which we contemplate a victory for the sacrifices of our individuals and their simply trigger,” the Islamist group mentioned in a press release, urging different Latin American international locations to observe swimsuit.
Colombia has joined Bolivia, Belize and South Africa in severing or suspending ties with Israel. A number of different international locations have recalled diplomats.
“FUELLING ANTI-SEMITISM”
In October, days after the beginning of the conflict, Israel introduced it was “halting safety exports” to Colombia after Petro accused Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant of utilizing language in regards to the individuals of Gaza just like what the “Nazis mentioned of the Jews”.
Israel on the time accused Petro of “expressing assist for the atrocities dedicated by Hamas terrorists, fuelling anti-Semitism”, and summoned Colombia’s ambassador.
Bogota subsequently demanded that Israel’s envoy depart the South American nation.
Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, has additionally asserted that “democratic peoples can’t enable Nazism to reestablish itself in worldwide politics”.
