On Monday, May 26, Colombia took a significant diplomatic step by appointing Jorge Iván Ospina as its first ambassador to the State of Palestine, nearly a year after severing ties with Israel.
This highly symbolic move reinforces the government of President Gustavo Petro’s commitment to recognizing Palestinian sovereignty, while firmly condemning Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Diplomatic Mission Still Unclear on the Ground
In his initial statements, Ospina acknowledged that he does not yet know whether he will operate from Ramallah or a neighboring country, noting that discussions with Israeli authorities will be necessary to determine the conditions for a diplomatic presence in Palestinian territories.
“There will need to be coordination with Israel to determine the steps required to establish the Colombian embassy in Ramallah,” he explained. This logistical detail highlights the ongoing tensions between Bogotá and Tel Aviv, as well as the practical challenges new diplomatic missions face in Palestinian territories.
Clear Humanitarian Support for Gaza
Alongside the appointment, Ospina announced that Colombia is prepared to receive thousands of injured Palestinians who were victims of Israeli bombings in Gaza. He particularly emphasized the plight of children affected by the strikes, stating that Colombia is prioritizing their medical care and rehabilitation.
However, no specific details have been provided regarding the evacuation mechanisms or procedures for families seeking to benefit from this assistance.
“The world cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank,” Ospina said, underscoring the Palestinian people’s right to health, dignity, and survival in the face of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
A Strongly Political Appointment
The profile of Jorge Iván Ospina clearly reflects Colombia’s diplomatic shift under President Gustavo Petro. A physician by training and former mayor of Cali — the country’s third-largest city — Ospina is the son of one of the founders of the M-19 guerrilla movement. He embodies a leftist, anti-imperialist stance with strong ties to social and international causes.
His ideological alignment with President Petro is well known. In May 2024, Petro broke off diplomatic relations with Israel, accusing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu of committing what he called “ethnic cleansing” and even “genocide” in Gaza.
A Diplomatic Strategy Departing from the Pro-Israel Axis
While most Western countries continue to maintain relations with Israel, Colombia is increasingly positioning itself as a dissenting voice on the global stage, advocating for a world order based on humanitarian justice and respect for international law.
The official recognition of Palestine and the installation of an ambassador — despite logistical hurdles — are part of this deliberate diplomatic break. It also signals a broader realignment of Latin American diplomacy on Middle Eastern issues, amid growing outrage over the war in Gaza.
Through this appointment, Colombia seeks not only to affirm its solidarity with the Palestinian people, but also to redefine the direction of its foreign policy — diverging from the traditional alignment with the United States or Israel.
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