Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that his country will sever its diplomatic relations with the Israeli entity, starting Thursday, over its aggression against the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

“Here in front of you, the government of change, of the president of the republic announces that tomorrow (Thursday) we will break diplomatic relations with Israel … for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal”, Petro said during a march marking International Worker’s Day in Bogota.

Petro heavily criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “perpetrator of genocide in Gaza”.

The Colombian president requested that his country join South Africa’s lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in which Israel is accused of committing genocide.

Countries cannot be passive in the face of the events in the Gaza Strip, he said.

Source: Qatar News Agency