Colombian Embassy will be installed in Ramallah, capital of Palestine

The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, ordered to install a Colombian embassy in Ramallahthe Palestinian administrative capital, after breaking diplomatic relations with Israel on May 2.

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“President Petro has given the instruction that we install the Colombian embassy in Ramallah, that is the next step we are going to take,” the chancellor, Luis Gilberto Murillo, said in statements to the media.

The chancellor He did not specify whether it is about the opening of an embassy in Palestine that would operate in parallel to that of Israel.located in Tel Aviv and currently closed after the breakdown of relations.

Colombia recognized Palestine as a State on August 3, 2018, four days before then-president Juan Manuel Santos handed over to his successor, Iván Duque.

The Andean country currently has a consular section in Ramallah, in the West Bank, which depended on the embassy in Tel Aviv.

This announcement is made on the same day that Spain, Ireland and Norway announced that they will jointly recognize the State of Palestine on May 28which 143 countries already do.

“We are sure that more and more countries will recognize Palestine and this is nothing against Israel or the Jews,” said the Colombian foreign minister, referring to this matter, adding: “The United Nations agreed in the context of the Oslo agreements that created a two-state solution and if two states are needed, Palestine needs to be recognized as a full state.

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Colombia announced the breaking of relations with Israel that became effective on May 2 due to its opposition to the actions of that country in “the war that has been waged in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.”

The Colombian Government has called on numerous occasions for a ceasefire, for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas and for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, while urging Israel to respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

“Colombia cannot be complicit or remain silent by maintaining diplomatic relations with a Government that behaves in this way and faces such serious accusations of the commission of genocide, war crimes and violations of international Humanitarian Law,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. when he announced the breakup of relations.

Petro has been one of the leaders who has most firmly expressed his opposition to Israel and has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian causeand this is the last step to show support for the State of Palestine.

“President Petro has given the instruction that we install the Colombian embassy in Ramallah, that is the next step we are going to take,” said the chancellor, Luis Gilberto Murillo, in statements to the media. He did not specify whether it is the opening of an embassy in Palestine or whether they will move the delegation from Tel Aviv – now inoperative after the breakdown of relations – to that Palestinian territory.