Latin American nations sever diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza conflict

Due to Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, Bolivia announced on Tuesday that it had severed diplomatic ties with the Middle Eastern nation. Meanwhile, Chile and Colombia, two nearby countries, sent their ambassadors back to Israel for talks. The deaths of Palestinian citizens were denounced by the three South American countries, who also denounced Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani stated at a press conference that Bolivia “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.” All three nations demanded an end to hostilities, with Bolivia and Chile pressing for the entry of humanitarian supplies into the area and charging Israel with breaking international law. The attacks were referred to as a “massacre of the Palestinian people” by the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. A request for comment was not immediately answered by Israel’s foreign ministry. A cease-fire has also been demanded by Mexico and Brazil, two more Latin American nations. “What we have now is the insanity of Israel’s prime minister, who wants to wipe out the Gaza Strip,” said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday. Bolivia is one of the first nations to formally sever diplomatic ties with Israel over the latter’s war in Gaza. The attack in southern Israel on October 7 was carried out by Palestinian Hamas militants, who Israel claims killed 1,400 people, including children, and kidnapped 240 others. Under the leftist President Evo Morales’ administration, Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The right-wing interim president Jeanine Anez’s administration restored relations in 2020. “We reject the war crimes being committed in Gaza. We support international initiatives to guarantee humanitarian aid, in compliance with international law,” Bolivian President Arce said on social media on Monday. Since October 7, 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, have died as a result of Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health authorities. Of the approximately 2.3 million civilians living in Gaza, over 1.4 million have become homeless, according to U.N. officials. The Israel military has accused Hamas, which controls the small coastal territory and is backed by Iran, of hiding fighters, commanders, and weapons in residential buildings. Hamas disputes these claims. (with agency inputs)