Colombia condemns Israel’s attacks on Rafah, southern Gaza

By Muhammed Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Colombia on Tuesday condemned the Israeli attacks in the city of Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said that a ground offensive in Rafah would have devastating consequences for more than 1.4 million Palestinians in the city.

“110,000 people have received a new evacuation order and there is no certainty that their displacement will be safe and to places that guarantee them water, sanitation, food and basic services,” it said.

The statement called on Israel and Hamas to hold negotiations that lead to a cease-fire and allow the release of all hostages.

It also called for a two-state solution, saying: “It is urgent and necessary and the ideal way to guarantee the right of Israel and Palestine to coexist in peace.”

On May 3, Colombia announced severing diplomatic relations with Israel, citing the ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas which killed about 1,200 people. More than 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and 78,100 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Over seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.