In a noteworthy assertion of solidarity, Colombia has joined the ranks of Latin American nations condemning Israel’s military actions in Gaza. President Gustavo Petro officially announced on August 14, 2024, that Colombia would halt all coal exports to Israel, citing the use of Colombian coal in what he described as an ongoing genocide in Gaza that has resulted in over 40,000 fatalities. This decision marks one of the most explicit rejections of Israel’s military campaign from any country in Latin America.

The Colombian mining sector has expressed concern regarding the economic repercussions of this embargo, highlighting that coal exports to Israel generated approximately $320 million in revenue during the first eight months of 2024. However, this amount represents a mere fraction of Colombia’s total coal export market, which reached $9 billion in 2023.

Political experts, such as Carolina Cepeda Másmela from Javeriana University, believe that President Petro’s actions align with his long-standing stance against the war, which has been consistent since its inception in October 2023. Notably, Petro retracted Colombia’s ambassador to Israel at the end of October, asserting via social media, “If Israel does not stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we cannot be there.” Furthermore, in response to further atrocities, Colombia has previously blocked military exports to Israel and, by May 2024, severed direct diplomatic relations with the Israeli government, labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “genocidal.”

Despite these measures, Colombia continues to engage in other economic and diplomatic relations with Israel, including upholding a free trade agreement established in 2020, which further complicates the entirety of this diplomatic repudiation.

Colombia’s stance is mirrored by other South American countries, including Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil, all of which have taken significant actions to protest Israel’s conduct. In May 2024, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also recalled his nation’s ambassador to Israel, a move that resulted in Israel declaring him a persona non grata.

The defense of Palestinian rights within Latin America is partly attributable to the region’s substantial Palestinian diaspora and the strong anti-imperialist sentiments that prevail in many developing nations. These dynamics have led to a comprehensive acknowledgment of the historical context, as articulated by Cepeda Másmela, who noted the complexities of Latin America’s position; it is neither neutral nor passive, but firmly recognizes the Palestinian plight in alignment with its own colonial history.

The relationship between Israel and various Latin American nations extends back several decades, with Israel holding free trade accords with Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and members of the Mercosur trade bloc. However, critiques have arisen regarding the nature of Israeli exports, primarily comprising military arms and surveillance technology, which have historically been utilized to bolster oppressive regimes and violate human rights.

The repercussions of these partnerships are evident in Guatemala, where Israeli weaponry played a tragic role in the internal conflict of the twentieth century, resulting in severe human rights violations against Indigenous populations. More recently, regimes in Central America have employed Israeli surveillance technologies to suppress dissent, exemplified by the implementation of Pegasus technology by the administration of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador to target critics and journalists.

Conversely, Guatemala maintains a historic and largely unchallenged allegiance to Israel, failing to formally denounce the violence occurring amidst the Gaza conflict. Within Latin America, seventeen countries formally recognize the State of Palestine. While only Panama and Mexico abstain from such recognition, Mexico still extends financial assistance to Palestine.

In conclusion, while the countries of Latin America demonstrate varying degrees of support for either Israel or Palestine, Colombia’s resolute stance against the genocide of Palestinians positions it prominently on the side of advocating for peace and justice in the region. Such actions underscore a broader movement across Latin America, where historical ties and human rights considerations shape foreign policy decisions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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