Colombian protesters denounce new embassy in Jerusalem and renewed ties with Israel

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Bogota on Wednesday, assembling outside the Israeli embassy to voice opposition to President Abelardo de la Espriella’s foreign-policy shift. The crowd condemned the decision to open a Colombian embassy in Jerusalem and to restore diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, calling the war in Gaza a genocide. Organizers highlighted that the protest marks three years since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks that triggered Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

They also referenced former President Gustavo Petro’s earlier move to cut ties with Israel and suspend Israeli arms shipments, contrasting it with the new administration’s alignment with the United States and Israel to fight armed groups. Protesters, including Nicolas Isaza, argued that Colombia should not be complicit in the alleged atrocities against Palestinians. The government also recently recognized Israel’s claim over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, further deepening the diplomatic pivot.