The Bolivian government announced on Tuesday the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel over its attacks on the Gaza Strip. In addition, neighbouring Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors.
The South American countries accused Israel of violating international law, condemned the attacks on the Gaza Strip and the deaths of Palestinian civilians, and called for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to the region.
Bolivian Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani stated that the country “decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip.”
Bolivia is one of the first countries to sever diplomatic relations with Israel over the war, launched in retaliation for a surprise attack on October 7 in southern Israel by Hamas militants. Israel claims the gunmen have killed 1,400 people, including children, and taken 240 people as hostages.
We reject war crimes being committed in Gaza. We support international initiatives to guarantee humanitarian aid, in compliance with international law.
Previously, the country severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 in protest over actions in the Gaza Strip, but later in 2020, the government of right-wing Interim President Jeanine Anez restored ties.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro labelled the Israeli attacks a “massacre of the Palestinian people” in a post on the social media network X, formerly Twitter.
Other Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, have also called for a ceasefire. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva claimed on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to “wipe out the Gaza Strip.”
What we have now is the insanity of Israel’s prime minister, who wants to wipe out the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli attacks have killed 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, since October 7. UN officials claim that more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million people have been left homeless.
On October 7, Hamas announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. The group’s militants then infiltrated into Israel and started launching rockets from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel launched Operation Iron Sword, carrying out a total siege of the Gaza Strip and conducting aerial strikes.
