Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel as other Latin American nations recall ambassadors

Bolivia has officially cut diplomatic ties with Israel in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Concurrently, two other Latin American countries, Colombia and Chile, have recalled their ambassadors from Tel Aviv for consultations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani announced Bolivia’s decision, stating, “Bolivia has decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip.” This announcement was made during a press conference held on Tuesday night.

Minister of the Presidency Maria Nela Prada also declared Bolivia’s intention to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing, “We demand an end to the attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have so far caused thousands of civilian deaths and the forced displacement of Palestinians.”

Joining Bolivia in expressing concern over the loss of civilian lives in Gaza and advocating for a ceasefire, both Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors. Historically, Latin American countries with left-leaning governments have supported the Palestinian cause, while those with more right-wing leadership have tended to align with the United States.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric used social media to denounce Israel’s actions, accusing them of “unacceptable violations of International Humanitarian Law” and the implementation of a policy of “collective punishment” on the people of Gaza. He simultaneously announced the recall of Ambassador Jorge Carvajal. Chile is home to one of the largest Palestinian communities outside the Arab world.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro also spoke out, labeling the attacks as a “massacre of the Palestinian people.” Additionally, other Latin American countries, including Mexico and Brazil, have called for an immediate ceasefire.

Bolivia’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Israel makes it one of the first nations to take such a step in response to the Gaza conflict. This conflict was triggered by an unprecedented assault on Israel by the armed group Hamas, resulting in 1,400 casualties and the capture of around 240 people, including at least 13 citizens from various Latin American countries, with 21 more reported as missing.

Hamas welcomed Bolivia’s decision and urged other Arab countries that have normalized relations with Tel Aviv to follow suit. It’s worth noting that Bolivia had previously cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and relations were only restored in 2020.

The conflict in Gaza has left a devastating impact on the civilian population, with the United Nations reporting that more than 1.4 million out of the 2.3 million people in Gaza have been made homeless due to Israel’s relentless bombardment.