Colombia to propose UN recognition of Palestine as independent state: President

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Monday that Colombia will propose to the UN the recognition of Palestine as a fully independent state.

In an X post accompanied by a video showing the aftermath at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Petro stated, "The carnage unleashed by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu at the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza. Colombia will present a proposal to the United Nations so that Palestine is accepted as a full state."

Petro also declared that Bogota will cease purchasing weapons from countries that voted against or abstained from the US resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

That would mean that Colombia will not buy weapons from countries such as the United States, France and Great Britain, three permanent members who voted against, as well as Japan. And neither would it buy weapons from Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta and Switzerland, countries that abstained.

"Democratic and progressive countries must fight to preserve international humanitarian law to prevent barbarism from spreading in the world," he added.

Petro also published the results of the vote of the countries at the UN to declare illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Look at which side Colombia is on, look if the majority of the world is not seeking justice, look if Colombia does not accompany that struggle," he said.

The president had announced on Friday that Colombia will actively join the complaint filed before the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes, to be presented by Algeria.

He said that Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva will meet with the prosecutor of the Court, Karim Khan, to address this issue.

The president has harshly condemned Israel's attacks on the Gaza strip after Hamas broke into Israeli territory.

As the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip entered its 38th day, at least 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,700 children and women, and more than 28,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,200, according to official figures.