The Colombian president announced this week that he would stop coal exports to Israel
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on all ship crews to stop transporting coal to Israel, just days after he froze all coal exports to Tel Aviv by presidential decree.
“May all the sailors of the world, may all our indigenous peoples refuse to bring coal from any country to Netanyahu,” Petro wrote on his X-account, alluding to the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Colombian president announced this week that he would stop coal exports to Israel because It is used to make bombs to kill Palestinian children.
“Used to kill children” – Colombia bans coal exports to Israel
The Colombian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism called for restrictions on the sale of coal last June, arguing that Colombia was Israel’s largest supplier of black gold.
This move was met with criticism from some politicians in Colombia, especially Pablo Felipe Robledo, former Inspector of Industry and Commerce and former Deputy Minister of Justice, believes that the suspension of coal exports to Israel runs counter to free economic competition and violates the law.
Petro defended his decision and attacked his critics of the suspension of coal exports to Israel.
“The Palestinian children and humanity are grateful. What is happening is that those who remained silent in Colombia in the face of the genocide do not understand it,” the Colombian president said.
Genocide in Gaza – China calls for “urgent” ceasefire, Colombia urges UN to send peacekeepers
Difficult relationships
In June, Colombia joined 60 other countries, organizations and individuals in submitting a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to grant prosecutor Karim Khan’s request to issue arrest warrants against senior Israeli and Hamas officials. The request was accepted.
Previously, in May, Petro had described the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “genocidal” and called on the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Gaza.
“There is no alternative but international peacekeeping forces in the Gaza Strip. Colombia will be part of these forces,” he said on X.
“More countries will recognize Palestine” – Colombia opens embassy in Ramallah
Due to ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Colombia officially severed diplomatic relations with Israel in early May and announced that it would open a Colombian embassy in Ramallah in the West Bank.
In addition, Colombia has joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
(PC, MEMORY)
