Israel criticizes South American international locations after they lower diplomatic ties and recall ambassadors

 Israel criticized Bolivia, Chile and Colombia on Wednesday after the South American international locations undertook a sequence of diplomatic strikes to protest Israel’s army operations in opposition to Gaza.

Different Latin American international locations, together with Argentina and Brazil, have additionally elevated their criticism of the influence that Israel’s army operations are having on civilians.

Israel on Wednesday referred to as on Colombia and Chile to “explicitly condemn the Hamas terrorist group, which slaughtered and kidnapped infants, youngsters, girls and the aged,” in keeping with an announcement by the Ministry of International Affairs.

The decision got here hours after Chile and Colombia each recalled their ambassadors to Israel on Tuesday night amid criticism of the killing of civilians in Gaza.

“Israel expects Colombia and Chile to assist the suitable of a democratic nation to guard its residents, and to name for the instant launch of all of the abductees, and never align themselves with Venezuela and Iran in assist of Hamas terrorism,” Israel’s International Ministry stated.

Though the assertion from Chile’s International Ministry concerning the recall of its ambassador didn’t point out Hamas, President Gabriel Boric did point out Hamas in a separate assertion on X, previously Twitter, through which he stated “harmless civilians” had been the “primary victims of Israel’s offensive.”

Chile “doesn’t doubt in condemning the assaults and kidnappings perpetrated by Hamas,” Boric wrote. “Humanity can not maintain itself by means of ties that dehumanize.”

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has been extra direct as he has shared a lot of messages on social media condemning Israel’s actions.

“It’s referred to as genocide; they’re doing it to take away the Palestinian individuals from Gaza and take it over,” Petro wrote on X. “The top of the state committing this genocide is a prison in opposition to humanity.”

Earlier, Israel had condemned Bolivia’s resolution Tuesday to sever diplomatic ties with Israel, characterizing it as a “give up to terrorism and to the Ayatollah’s regime in Iran.” Though Sunni, Hamas has grown more and more near the Shiite powerhouse, Iran.

Slicing diplomatic ties with Israel means “the Bolivian authorities is aligning itself with the Hamas terrorist group,” Israel’s International Ministry stated. Bolivia had beforehand severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 solely to renew them in 2020.

The diplomatic strikes by the three South American international locations, all of that are led by leftist leaders, come as others within the area have ramped up their criticism of Israel’s army exercise.

Argentina on Wednesday criticized Israel’s assault within the Jabaliya refugee camp and stated the “humanitarian scenario in Gaza is ever extra alarming.”

“Argentina has unequivocally condemned the terrorist assaults carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7 and acknowledges Israel’s proper to its authentic protection. Nonetheless, nothing justifies the violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation and the duty to guard the civilian inhabitants in armed conflicts,” Argentina’s International Ministry stated.

There are 21 Argentine residents nonetheless lacking and presumed to be held hostage by Hamas, in keeping with estimates by the International Ministry, which says 9 Argentines have been killed within the battle.