Colombia expels ‘Israeli’ diplomats over Gaza flotilla intercept

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday expelled all remaining ‘Israeli’ diplomats in the country over ‘Israel's’ interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and reported detention of two Colombian activists.

Read more: ‘Israeli’ warships intercept Gaza “Sumud” flotilla

Petro said two Colombian women, "who were engaged in human solidarity activities with Palestine," were detained by ‘Israeli’ forces in international waters.

In a statement, his office said Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and called for their immediate release.

The ‘Israeli’ foreign ministry said that "several vessels" in the flotilla had been "safely stopped" and claimed that the passengers were being brought to an ‘Israeli’ port.

The leftist Petro severed relations with ‘Israel’ last year but four diplomats remained posted in the country, a source at the ‘Israeli’ consulate in Bogota told AFP.

Writing on X, Petro announced the expulsion of "the entire diplomatic delegation of Israel" over what he called "a new international crime" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He also terminated a free-trade deal in force with ‘Israel’ since 2020.

Read more: Colombia manufactures its first rifles to replace 'Israeli' weapons

Colombia's leader is one of Netanyahu's most vocal critics, calling him "genocidal," while also slamming US President Donald Trump as an "accomplice" to "genocide."

Last week, Petro attended a pro-Palestinian protest in New York, where he called on the US military to "disobey" Trump.

Washington revoked Petro's visa over his remarks.