By Luis Jaime Acosta
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The international community must urge Israel and its allies to negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflict in Gaza, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said.
Murillo said the actions in Gaza, where local authorities say some 36,000 people have been killed during Israel’s military campaign, constitute genocide.
Israel has vigorously rejected South Africa’s accusations before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it is committing genocide, arguing that the operations are in self-defense and target Hamas militants who attacked Israel on October 7.
“We really need to push for it, not just with Israel’s government, but also with its key allies, many in the global north,” Murillo told Reuters this weekend.
“They now have the opportunity to convince Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) that it is important to reach a ceasefire, that it is crucial to enable humanitarian aid to Gaza and that it is crucial It is important to sit down together to negotiate a peaceful agreement. end to the conflict,” Murillo said.
Murillo did not name the Israeli allies he was referring to, but the country has received military aid from the United States for decades and will continue to receive billions of dollars in U.S. weaponry, though the Biden administration has said it remains concerned about the potential use of heavy bombs against civilians in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
About 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel in October, while another 250 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.
‘INEFFECTIVE MEASURES’
Judges of the ICJ, the United Nations’ highest court, ordered Israel on Friday to immediately halt its military attack on Rafah in a landmark emergency ruling.
Although the court lacks the resources to enforce its orders, the ruling was a clear sign of Israel’s global isolation from its campaign in Gaza.
United Nations measures have so far been ineffective, Murillo said, and the international community should redouble its pressure on Israel.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has heavily criticized Netanyahu and cut ties with Israel earlier this month before ordering the opening of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah.
Colombia is open to restoring relations if there is a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid, Murillo said.
Colombia is closely monitoring the presidential election process in Venezuela, he added.
Venezuela’s opposition is taking part in the election for the first time in a decade, although it was forced to replace its candidate after the winner of the primaries was barred from office in a decision the opposition says is illegal.
“We are confident that the process will go well,” Murillo said.
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
