Bogota, October 16 (RHC)-- Colombian President Gustavo Petro has slammed Israel for committing crimes in the besieged Gaza Strip, saying "genocides are never supported."  “If we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we will suspend them.  We do not support genocides.”   “The president of Colombia will not be insulted,” he stressed after Israel decided to cut arms exports to Colombia over “hostile and anti-Semitic statements” by Petro.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat on Sunday said Colombia’s ambassador Margarita Manjarrez was also summoned over Petro’s statements in which he likened Israelis to “Nazis” due to their brutal aggression and complete siege of Gaza.  Since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, Petro has voiced his solidarity with the Palestinians in numerous comments on X, formerly Twitter.

Petro has said Israel must cease its systematic attacks on civilians and genocide, urging the European Union to abide by international law and condemn Israeli crimes.  That came as the EU has expressed its support for Israel in its aggression on Palestinians in Gaza, sparking widespread criticism.

Petro also stressed that the basic needs of life must be protected in Gaza, vowing to send humanitarian aid to the besieged strip.