Bolivia Severs Diplomatic Ties With Israel Over Gaza Conflict

Bolivia has announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel, citing concerns over what it has labelled "disproportionate" Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani made this declaration during a press conference. In a show of support for the people affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Bolivia also announced plans to send humanitarian aid to the region. Minister of the Presidency Maria Nela Prada, at the same press conference, called for an immediate cessation of attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have led to a significant loss of civilian lives and the forced displacement of Palestinians. Bolivia's decision marks the first time in Latin America that a government has cut diplomatic ties with Israel since the outbreak of the recent conflict triggered by Hamas attacks on October 7. Israeli authorities report that these attacks resulted in over 1,400 casualties. In response, Israel criticized Bolivia's actions, characterizing them as a "surrender to terrorism." Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat asserted that this move aligns the Bolivian government with the Hamas organization, which Israel considers a terrorist group. Notably, Bolivia had only recently restored diplomatic relations with Israel in 2019, following a decade-long period during which these ties were severed in response to previous Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, the organization behind the initial attacks, welcomed Bolivia's decision, expressing high regard for it while encouraging other Arab nations that have normalized relations with Israel to follow suit. Furthermore, the leaders of Colombia and Chile have also raised their voices against Israel's offensive in Gaza, with the Hamas-controlled health ministry reporting more than 8,500 Palestinian casualties, including a significant number of women and children. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has recalled the country's ambassador to Israel for consultation and declared that if Israel does not cease what he referred to as the "massacre of the Palestinian people," Colombia cannot maintain its diplomatic presence there. Chile, home to the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world, announced the recall of its ambassador to Israel in protest of Israel's alleged violations of international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, has called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that the actions of Palestinian militants should not justify the killing of "millions of innocents" in Gaza. The situation continues to be of great concern, with diplomatic repercussions reverberating across the globe.