Colombia has taken a historic diplomatic step by officially appointing Jorge Iván Ospina as its first ambassador to the State of Palestine, nearly seven years after it recognized Palestine as a sovereign nation in 2018.

The move comes as part of President Gustavo Petro’s firm stance in support of the Palestinian cause. The newly established Colombian embassy will be based in Ramallah, deepening bilateral ties between Bogotá and the Palestinian Authority.

Ambassador Ospina, a former mayor of Cali and a long-time ally of President Petro, vowed to use his new role to raise global awareness about the suffering of Palestinians. In a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ospina said he is dedicated to “denouncing the genocide that the Palestinian people are suffering today” and promoting the “freedom of those who live there.”

This appointment follows a dramatic escalation in Colombia’s foreign policy toward Israel. In May 2024, President Petro severed diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Colombia has repeatedly condemned Israel's genocidal aggression and expressed unambiguous support for Palestinian statehood and justice. President Petro has called on the United States and the international community to intervene to halt what he described as the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

The appointment of an ambassador and the opening of a permanent diplomatic mission in Palestine marks a milestone in Colombia’s Middle East policy and underscores a growing international chorus of criticism against Israeli conduct in the occupied territories. (ILKHA)