Colombia Stops Coal Exports to Israel Due to Gaza War

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced that his country will halt its coal exports to Israel as the war in Gaza continues. Petro stated, "We will stop our coal exports to Israel until the genocide stops." A decree issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that the coal export ban would remain in effect "until there is full respect for the temporary measures ordered by the International Court of Justice regarding the implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza." The Colombian government clarified that the measure will take effect five days after its publication in the official gazette and will not include goods that have already received export permits. In May, Petro announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel, describing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as committing "genocide" against the Palestinians. Additionally, he halted the purchase of Israeli-made weapons, noting that Israel is one of the main sources of arms for Colombian security forces.