Through its social networks, the President Gustavo Petro ordered the departure of Israel’s diplomatic delegation in Colombia, after confirming the arrest of Colombian citizens Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barretowho were retained by Israeli forces during the interception of boats that transported humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Head of State described the detention as an action contrary to international law and pointed out that it is part of the harassment denounced against the Global Sumud Flotillacivil initiative that seeks to bring supplies and humanitarian support to the Palestinian territory.
Likewise, the president instructed the Foreign Ministry to present the corresponding complaints before the competent international organizations, and called for lawyers and specialists in international law to accompany the process and support the efforts aimed at the release of the two Colombian citizens, who participated in humanitarian activities in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
(Further: Chronology: Acts that have deepened the crisis in the relationship between Colombia and the US.).
If this information is true, there is a new international crime of Netanyahu.
Two Colombian citizens who were in human solidarity activities with Palestine have been arrested in international waters
Foreign Ministry must make all the respective demands, even …
– Gustavo Petro (@Petrogustavo) October 1, 2025
“The Free Trade Agreement with Israel is immediately denounced“Petro said in his X account where he added:”The entire Diplomatic Delegation of Israel comes out in Colombia“
According to Petro, “If this information is true, there is a new international crime of (Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin) Netanyahu“, whom he has labeled numerous times”genocidal“
It is worth mentioning that, in the prelude to the official confirmation of his arrest, Petro had warned that, if it was verified that Colombian activists were arrested on their way to Gaza, it would proceed to expel Israeli diplomats residing in Colombia.
In fact, during the Council of Ministers on September 29, the Head of State affirmed that, in that scenario, he would also immediately proceed to denounce the Free Trade Agreement With Israel.
The president also clarified that the Presidential Guard Battalion would remain in charge of the security of the Casa de Nariño, even after the diplomatic decisions announced.
“UU. He decided to take the weapons that, according to them in bailment, must immediately be supplied by Colombian security. That were the so -called aid, subordinate the peoples“Petro added.
(Besides: No solution at the sight, US government entered into budgetary paralysis).
The Global Sumud Flotilla’s Vessel Alma (Deir Al-Balah), Carrying Activist Thiago Ávila, you have been intercepted by Israeli Forces. pic.twitter.com/6pqpctukxn
– Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@globalsumudf) October 1, 2025
Denunciation for floating with humanitarian aid
The Global Sumud Flotilla denounced that the Israeli Navy intercepted at least three of its vessels in the Mediterranean on Wednesday night, when they sailed to Gaza, with the aim of breaking the blockade and carrying humanitarian aid.
“Several vessels of the Sumud Global Flotilla, in particular those of the soul, the Sirius and the Adara, were intercepted and illegally addressed by the Israeli occupation forces in international waters“, reported the organization of the mission in a statement, minutes after alerting the presence of 20 ships”unidentified“In his radar.
The first intercepted ship was the Soulone of the main mission, as explained to Efe Néstor Prieto, collaborator of the portal deciphering the warthat sails in one of the vessels.
(Besides: Trump da ultimátum to Hamas to accept his peace plan).
According to a statement issued by the world movement to Gaza, Colombian citizens were aboard the HIO ship as part of the delegation that had humanitarian assistance. The circular indicates that the arrest occurred after the vessels crossed 150 nautical miles on the high seas, at a time when Israeli ships began interception maneuvers at about 7:00 pm Colombian hour.
The National Delegation of Global Movement to Gaza demanded the immediate release of the two detained women. Besides, He emphasized President Petro’s statements in New York, calling for global consciousness: “If Gaza dies, humanity dies with her“
The delegation statement concluded with a message of solidarity: “Let’s show the world that Palestine is not alone“
TLC: The other front
During the last Council of Ministers, President Petro reiterated his position against conflict in Palestine and announced new measures in the bilateral relationship with Israel.
The president recalled that Colombia had already broken diplomatic relations with that country, in protest of the military offensive developed in the Gaza Strip. In contrast, The Government has expressed in different scenarios its support for Palestine, even during the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.
On this occasion, the decision announced by the Head of State was the elimination of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Israel. During his speech before the ministers, Petro addressed the validity of the trade agreements signed by Colombia, particularly those held with the United States and Israel.
President Gustavo Petro
Colombia Presidency
When referring to international trade treaties, the Head of State said: “We are not that kind of trade that we kneel the life of greed”, Adding that the decision also implied the end of the bilateral agreement with Israel, stating that“With Israel there is no tlc”
In addition to commercial matters, the president called on carboneras companies that currently export the mineral to review their position against national policy.
In his speech, he urged companies to “fold or sell your concessions”, And he said that, in case of opting for the sale,“The State would buy them”, According to the instruction that he directed at that time to the Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Germán Ávila.
Manifestations at the Andi headquarters
After the news of the arrest of the flotilla, the Global Movement to Gaza Colombia He summoned demonstrations to the Andi offices nationwide. The organization accuses the entrepreneurs guild of having “direct links with Israel’s economic mission in Colombia“And if there”Publicly positioned against the end of NAFTA and coal trade“
The Andi rejected the accusations and clarified that it is not a platform and Israel’s commercial network in the country.
“We reject the statements where it is said that the association normalizes trade with Zionism. They are statements that stigmatize a sector such as the productive that contributes to the generation of employment in the country. Nor is it responsible to put the structure of commercial relations at risk, where it is the national government who must lead them with a long -term vision and with the greatest possible strategy”, Said the President of the Guild, Bruce Mac Master.
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