10:47 AM
Colombia will close its coal exports to Israel by decision of President Gustavo Petro, who argued that the determination will not be reversed until Tel Aviv stops the “genocide”.
“We are going to suspend coal exports to Israel until the genocide stops,” the president announced on his X account this Saturday.
The determination is accompanied by a draft decree from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, which establishes a peremptory period for comments before being signed by the Head of State.
This decision by the House of Nariño further escalates the deteriorated relations between the two nations, the most complex point of which was the breaking of diplomatic ties by Bogotá last May, following the Israeli military attack on Rafáh.
Weeks before, the Head of State had already ordered the suspension of purchases of military equipment from Israel, a country that is one of the main suppliers of the Colombian Police and Military Forces.
The Colombian Mining Association (ACM) expressed its concern this week about the imminent cessation of coal exports to Israel, given that Israel is an important trading partner in this area.
“These types of measures must weigh the economic and social implications for the country and the regions. Israel is a key destination for Colombian thermal coal exports, representing $650 billion in taxes, royalties and contributions each year, of which “More than $100 billion goes directly to the regions of La Guajira and Cesar,” the union said in a statement.
The announcement from Bogotá coincided with the actions carried out today by Tel Aviv that would have ended the lives of 150 people, in a new attack against Gaza, with special emphasis on the Nuseirat refugee camp, where Israeli troops would have rescued them alive. four hostages held by the extremist group Hamas.
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