The diplomatic spat started a day after Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel after Petro used his official Twitter account to denounce what he called the "neo-Nazi" efforts by Israel to destroy the Palestinian people, their freedom and their culture as he condemned the genocide of Palestinian civilians. (Related: Israel DELAYS Gaza ground offensive as it orders 1.1 million Palestinians in northern Strip to EVACUATE.)
He doubled down on these comments a day later when he reacted to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant claiming that the Israel Defense Forces are fighting "human animals" in Gaza.
"This is what the Nazis said about the Jews," said Petro. "All this hate speech will do, if it continues, is lead to a Holocaust."
As president, Petro has demanded that Israel adhere to international law, that the international community protect healthcare workers in Gaza and that the systematic attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must be stopped to prevent a genocide. He has also announced that Colombia would be sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
"I've been to the Auschwitz concentration camp and now I see it being copied in Gaza," said Petro. More recently, he has threatened to "suspend foreign relations with Israel."
"If we have to … we will suspend them," said Petro. "We don't support genocides."
Petro has asked other Latin American governments to join him in standing in solidarity with the civilians in Palestine and has also called on the people of Israel to support a ceasefire and a lasting peace.
Israel reprimands Colombian ambassador, suspends security exports to country
Israel responded to Petro's statement comparing the Israeli government to the Nazis by summoning Colombian Ambassador to Israel Margarita Manjarrez for an official reprimand.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat called Petro's statements "hostile and antisemitic," and told Manjarrez that "her president's statements were received in Israel with shock."
He added that Israel would be halting security exports to Colombia. The Colombian state-owned military weapons manufacturer INDUMIL has a long relationship with its Israeli counterpart, the state-owned IMI Systems. Israel regularly exports unassembled firearms to INDUMIL, including the Galil, the standard-issue rifle of the Colombian military.
Petro has also been exchanging words with the Israeli Ambassador to Colombia Gali Dagan, who offered to take Petro to the kibbutzim in southern Israel that Hamas attacked to show him the carnage the terrorist organization wrought upon Israeli civilians, urging him to condemn Hamas.
In response, Petro said: "Terrorism is to kill innocent children, whether it be in Colombia or in Palestine."
Dagan's tone in speaking with Petro over social media has received condemnation from the Colombian Foreign Ministry and its head, Alvaro Leyva Duran, who pointed out that treating presidents with respect and "sensibly chosen words" was compulsory for any diplomat.
"No sensible person can applaud the scorched earth policy, no matter where it comes from," added Leyva. "It violates human dignity. It kills innocent people."
Watch this Oct. 17 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how Gaza is the world's largest open-air prison thanks to the Israeli military blockade and occupation.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Israel refusing to allow HUMANITARIAN AID to reach the 2 million civilians trapped in Gaza.
GENOCIDAL: Israeli lawmaker demands deployment of "Doomsday" weapons to annihilate Gaza.
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