“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 right this moment he delivered,” International 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 recognized, who burned infants, murdered kids, raped ladies and kidnapped harmless civilians,” Katz added.
Hamas, for its half, hailed the transfer as a “victory”.
“We vastly admire the place of Colombian President Gustavo Petro … which we contemplate a victory for the sacrifices of our folks and their simply trigger,” the Islamist group mentioned in a press release, urging different Latin American nations to comply with go well with.
Colombia has joined Bolivia, Belize and South Africa in severing or suspending ties with Israel. A number of different nations have recalled diplomats.
“FUELLING ANTI-SEMITISM”
In October, days after the beginning of the struggle, Israel introduced it was “halting safety exports” to Colombia after Petro accused Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant of utilizing language in regards to the folks of Gaza much like what the “Nazis mentioned of the Jews”.
Israel on the time accused Petro of “expressing help for the atrocities dedicated by Hamas terrorists, fuelling anti-Semitism”, and summoned Colombia’s ambassador.
Bogota subsequently demanded that Israel’s envoy go away 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”.