Hamas on Thursday denounced the Bolivian government’s decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel, calling it a “regrettable departure” from the pro-Palestinian stance adopted by the country’s former administration.

In an official statement, the Palestinian resistance movement said Bolivia’s move “contributes to whitewashing the Israeli occupation regime and the war crimes it has committed against the Palestinian people.”

Bolivia had cut ties with Israel in 2023 over the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The new government’s reversal marks a significant shift in foreign policy, drawing strong criticism from pro-Palestinian groups.

Hamas urged Bolivian authorities to remain committed to what it described as Bolivia’s “historic positions” of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for liberation and independence.

The statement comes as international pressure continues to mount over Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and the wider occupied Palestinian territories. (ILKHA)