In a significant social media stir, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced a stop to all military transactions with Israel.
This follows an event where over 100 Palestinians lost their lives in Gaza amid humanitarian aid efforts, igniting widespread debate.
On platform X, Petro vehemently stated, “Netanyahu’s actions, resulting in over 100 Palestinian deaths, echo genocide, and the Holocaust, a truth often ignored by global powers.”
“It’s crucial to isolate Netanyahu. Consequently, Colombia will end its military purchases from Israel.”
Gaza’s government calls it a planned attack, while Israel cites a stampede for the deaths.
This move worsens the Colombia-Israel rift, intensified in 2023 after Colombia’s critique, seen by Israel as hostile, followed a Hamas attack killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking 100+ hostages. Petro backed Palestine then.
Petro also accused Israel of violating International Law in Palestine at the International Court, causing a diplomatic row and summoning Israel’s ambassador over internal comments.
Israel is a crucial arms supplier
The halt in military dealings with Israel might affect Colombia’s security, as Israel is a crucial arms supplier.
This could alter the use and production of Israeli weaponry in Colombia, like the Galil rifles, which are crucial to the Colombian military.
It also puts at risk ongoing acquisitions, such as
- the Barak MX air defense system and at least
- 18 ATMOS 155 mm self-propelled artillery pieces,
- conversion of Boeing 737-800 aircraft for electronic warfare,
- maintenance of essential defense systems like Python IV and Derby ER missiles,
- Spice 1000 bombs, and
- the upkeep of operational Kfir jets, with their future replacement in doubt.
Some view Petro’s announcement as a distraction from his criticized administration, marked by Ecopetrol’s 40% profit fall in 2023.
This action highlights the significance of global relations, ethics in arms deals, and their impact on security and diplomacy.