President Petro sides with anti-Israel activists, expelling diplomats after Israel legally intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla linked to radicals.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) that he is expelling all remaining Israeli diplomats, escalating tensions after the Israeli Navy legally intercepted a so-called “aid flotilla” attempting to break the Gaza blockade.
Petro claimed two Colombian nationals, Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto, were detained by Israeli forces while participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israel maintains that such flotillas are not humanitarian missions but political provocations, often hijacked by extremists seeking to delegitimize Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas-controlled Gaza.
The move aligns Colombia with anti-Israel agitators at the expense of democratic solidarity. Israel’s naval blockade, recognized as legal under international law to prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas, remains a vital security measure. By expelling Israeli diplomats, Petro has chosen to embolden radical networks rather than stand with allies fighting terrorism.
This decision risks isolating Colombia internationally while strengthening Israel’s resolve to maintain security and protect its citizens against Hamas and its backers.
