Colombia took the step to pressure West Jerusalem into ceasing the hostilities in Gaza
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has signed a decree prohibiting coal exports to Israel, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting from Israel’s ongoing military response to the cross-border attack by Hamas last October.
The South American nation is the largest fossil fuel supplier to Israel, with trade amounting to $450 million in 2023. The Colombian Miners Association had warned against the move, which was first announced in June, pointing to the trade agreement between Bogota and West Jerusalem, as well as opposition from coal producers.
The document published on the presidential website on Sunday states that the decision was made based on “the seriousness of the humanitarian situation that has arisen in Palestine following the military operation carried out by Israel after 7 October 2023.”
It referenced a recent report by the UN Office for the…