Hundreds of people gathered in Colombia's capital, Bogota, on Wednesday to protest the new right-wing government's policy toward Israel and to voice concern over the situation in Gaza. The march began outside the Israeli embassy in Bogota.
Participants criticized President Abelardo de la Espriella's decision to open a new Colombian embassy in Jerusalem. The protest also marked three years since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which were followed by Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
"When diplomatic relations with Israel were severed, the message was that we would not be a country complicit in their atrocities," Nicolas Isaza, a protest participant, told Al Jazeera. "Today, our government no longer draws a line against the atrocities taking place in Palestine," he added.
De la Espriella, who was sworn in as president in August, pledged during his campaign to maintain close ties with the United States and Israel as a way of confronting armed groups at home.
Colombia's government subsequently restored relations with Israel, after former President Gustavo Petro — a critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza — severed diplomatic ties and halted weapons imports from Israel.
Colombia's government also recognized Israel's claim to sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, just days after the new president took office.
