Some Latin American governments are distancing themselves from Israel

Several countries Latin America is run by the left – like Bolivia, Colombia and Chile – They are reassessing their relationship with Israel, with measures ranging from cutting ties to recalling their ambassadors, following bombings in Palestinian territory, actions they see as violations of international law.

Bolivia announced on Tuesday that it was severing diplomatic relations with Israel as a result of what it considered an “aggressive and disproportionate military offensive” against the population of the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Vice-Chancellor, Freddy Mamani Machaca, indicated that his Government “decided to sever diplomatic relations with the State of Israel as a sign of rejection and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive being carried out in the Gaza Strip.”

Immediately after that, Chile decided to call its ambassador Israel, Jorge Carvajalbecause of the “unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip”.

“Chili strongly condemns and notes with great concern that these military operations – which at this point in their development include the collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza – do not respect the fundamental norms of international law,” the government said in a statement.

And not long after that, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called his own Ambassador to Israel Margarita Manjarrezfor the “massacre of the Palestinian people” that the country claims to have committed.

“I have decided to invite our ambassador to Israel for consultation. If Israel does not stop the massacre Palestinian people We can’t be there,” the president said in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Israel accuses Chile and Colombia of supporting Hamas

Reaction from Tel Aviv It didn’t take long. This Wednesday, Israel accused Chile and Colombia for “supporting terrorism” Hamas” after inviting their ambassadors to the Jewish state for consultations over Israel’s offensive in Gaza and accusing them of aligning themselves “with Venezuela and Iran in support of Hamas terrorism.”

“Israel is hoping for that Colombia and Chile support the right of a democratic country to protect its citizens and demand the immediate release of those abducted” in Gaza and “not stand with Venezuela and Iran in supporting Hamas terrorism,” said a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, in the country’s first reaction to today’s steps by the two Latin American countries.

The United States, Israel’s great ally in the world, has announced that it will expose The government of Benjamin Netanyahuthe need to respect the laws of war.

Secretary of The American State, Antony Blinkenwill convey to the Israeli authorities on his new trip to the country next Friday the need to respect the laws of war and do everything possible to minimize civilian casualties, his spokesman indicated this Wednesday. Department, Matthew Miller.

“Just as he did before and as the president also did (Joe Biden), will speak directly to the Israeli government about our expectation that, in launching and conducting its military campaign, it does so in full compliance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war. “He will be very direct about it,” he said at his daily news conference.

Diplomatic measures in response to the bombing of the Loop They also caused reactions within the borders of Latin American countries.

A delegation of Argentine-Israeli associations (DAIA) questioned the decision of the Argentine government to condemn the Israeli attack on the refugee camp in Gaza strip and asked to differentiate themselves from the “disheartened attitudes of some countries in the region”.

DAIA, organ of political expression Jewish community in Argentinasaid he “condemns the criticisms he has made Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina towards Israel for the military response to the criminal terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7″, and alluded to the “right to defend a democratic state in the face of a brutal attack in which more than 1,400 people were killed, thousands wounded and 239” people were kidnapped, of which “21 Argentines”.

In the meantime, in Bolivia, political scientist Franklin Parejaa researcher at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), in La Paz, believes that by breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel, that South American country is getting closer to several of its political and commercial partners in the Middle East and Asia, while at the same time distancing it from Western countries.

Hamas thanks Bolivia for breaking off relations

He Palestinian Islamist group Hamaswho de facto governs Gaza strip, celebrated the Bolivian government’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Israel and described it as a “brave” stance. He also thanked Governments of Colombia and Chile for the withdrawal of its ambassadors from Israel.

And signs of condemnation for bombing the Palestinian territories They continued in several ministries of foreign affairs in Latin America.

The Chilean government expressed its “deep regret” this Wednesday for the death of the official United Nations and its agencies as a result of Israeli military operations in Gaza and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, amid a diplomatic escalation with Israel.

After Tuesday’s bombing in the north Gaza stripthat killed at least 145 people, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, a well-known defender of the Palestinian cause, condemned the attacks carried out by Israel and invited the Chilean ambassador to Tel AvivJosé Carvajal.

For its part, Peru expressed deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza strip and condemned the attacks carried out by the Israel Defense Forces on the Jabalia refugee camp, north of Loopwhich caused hundreds of deaths.

In the official statement he published Office, Government The Peruvian reiterated that he “condemns and will condemn violence wherever it comes from”.