Chile, Colombia, Jordan recall Israel ambassadors after Bolivia cuts ties

[Judi Lynn]

Bolivia became the first country to end its diplomatic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.



People demonstrate in support of Palestinians in Cali, Colombia, on Oct. 19, 2023, amid Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in reprisal for a surprise Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. - JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images

Rina Bassist
@RinaBassist

November 1, 2023

Chile, Colombia and Jordan announced Wednesday that they are recalling their respective ambassadors to Israel for consultations over Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. These decisions come one day after the Bolivian government announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Israel, making it the first country to take such a step since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,400 Israelis.

"With the unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law that Israel has incurred in the Gaza Strip, as the government of Chile, we have decided to call back to Santiago for consultations our ambassador in Israel, Jorge Carvajal," Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font wrote in a post on X.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro similarly said, “I have decided to recall our ambassador to Israel for consultations. If Israel does not stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we cannot be there."

The leftist leaders of both Latin American countries have criticized Israel's response to the Hamas attack several times in recent weeks, leading to a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties. On Oct. 8, Petro denounced Israel's “neo-Nazi” tactics in the Gaza Strip, prompting criticism from Israel's ambassador to Bogota.

Meanwhile, Jordan also said Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel. “The return of the ambassador will be linked to halting Israel’s war on Gaza and ending the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Israeli measures that deprive the Palestinians of their right to food, water, medicine, and their right to live … on their land,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/11/chile-colombia-jordan-recall-israel-ambassadors-after-bolivia-cuts-ties#ixzz8Hsv9kseW