Colombian President Gustavo Petro delivered a sharply critical speech at the United Nations Security Council, accusing the Israeli regime of carrying out policies in Gaza that he said resemble those associated with the Nazi era.

Addressing the council, Petro drew attention to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of the war. He said civilians, including large numbers of women and children, have borne the brunt of the violence.

Petro argued that the scale of suffering in Gaza could not be ignored or concealed, declaring that "the Nazi era has returned" as he criticized the Israeli regime's military campaign in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Israeli officials condemn remarks

Israeli regime Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected Petro's comments, describing them as unacceptable.

The Israeli regime's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also condemned the remarks and called for them to be rejected, arguing that comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany were inappropriate.

The exchange reflects growing international debate over the war in Gaza, with a number of countries intensifying criticism of the Israeli regime's conduct while its officials continue to defend military operations as necessary for security purposes.

Petro has been a vocal critic of the Israeli regime

Petro has emerged as one of the strongest international critics of the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza, repeatedly describing the military campaign as a genocide against the Palestinian people.

The Colombian president has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and greater international accountability for alleged violations of international law.

Diplomatic ties severed over Gaza war

In 2024, Colombia severed diplomatic relations with the Israeli regime in protest over its military operations in Gaza.

At the time, Petro said his government could not maintain normal relations with a state he accused of committing grave crimes against the Palestinian population.

His latest remarks at the Security Council are expected to deepen already strained relations between Bogotá and Tel Aviv as international scrutiny of the Gaza conflict continues to grow. (ILKHA)