7 months ago
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro connected Wednesday (October 1, 2025) expelled each remaining Israeli diplomats successful the state implicit Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound assistance flotilla and reported detention of 2 Colombian activists.
Mr. Petro said 2 Colombian women, "who were engaged successful quality solidarity activities with Palestine," were detained by Israeli forces successful planetary waters.
In a statement, his bureau said Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto were portion of the Global Sumud Flotilla and called for their contiguous release.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that "several vessels" successful the flotilla had been "safely stopped" and that the passengers were being brought to an Israeli port.
The leftist Mr. Petro severed relations with Israel past twelvemonth but 4 diplomats remained posted successful the country, a root astatine the Israeli consulate successful Bogota told AFP.
Writing connected X, Mr. Petro announced the expulsion of "the full diplomatic delegation of Israel" implicit what helium called "a caller planetary crime" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He besides terminated a free-trade woody successful unit with Israel since 2020.
Colombia's person is 1 of Mr. Netanyahu's astir vocal critics, calling him "genocidal," portion besides slamming U.S. President Donald Trump arsenic an "accomplice" to "genocide."
Last week, Mr. Petro attended a pro-Palestinian protestation successful New York, wherever helium called connected the U.S. subject to "disobey" Mr. Trump.
Washington revoked Mr. Petro's visa implicit his remarks.
