Bolivia Has Become The First Country To Cut Ties With Israel Over Its “Crimes Against Humanity” In Gaza
Bolivia announced the move after Israel confirmed it bombed Gaza’s largest refugee camp and killed more than 100 people.
Bolivia has cut diplomatic ties with Israel over Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, including bombing Gaza’s largest refugee camp, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
Bolivia’s deputy foreign minister, Freddy Mamani, announced the move at a news conference on Tuesday Oct. 31, after Israel confirmed it bombed Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza and killed more than 100 people.
“Based on its principled stance of respect towards life, [Bolivia] has decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state,” Mamani said.
He condemned “the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip”, and called Israel military actions in the area a crime against humanity.
Bolivia is the first country to break diplomatic ties with Israel following Israel’s bombardment of Gaza after Hamas invaded southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7.
Other Latin American countries, including Colombia and Chile, have now also recalled their ambassadors from Israel.
The minister of the Bolivian presidency, María Nela Prada, who also spoke during the press conference, urged a ceasefire in Gaza and for Israel to end its blockade that is stopping food, water and other essential items from entering the area.
She also said that Bolivian president Luis Alberto Arce had expressed solidarity with Palestine at a meeting with Palestinian ambassador to Bolivia Mahmoud El Alwani.
“He expressed his and the Bolivian people’s solidarity with the suffering of the Palestinians. Specially with the children who have the right to live in peace,” she informed, “He also rejected the war crimes carried out in Gaza.”
Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement that the Bolivian government’s actions mean it is “aligning itself with the Hamas terrorist organization”.
