Bogota (EFE).- The Colombian government announced on Thursday its withdrawal as a member and co-chair of The Hague Group, a coalition created to coordinate actions against Israel regarding the war in Gaza and the situation in Palestine, marking another step in its diplomatic rapprochement with the Israeli state.
«Colombia officially requested its withdrawal from The Hague Group, a body formed to isolate and target Israel. We reject this approach,» stated Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula in an official announcement.
The Hague Group was established on January 31, 2025, by Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa.
Colombia’s departure follows similar exits by Bolivia and Honduras, who also left the bloc, according to details released by the Colombian government.
This decision comes weeks after Colombia withdrew its declaration of intervention in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which alleges violations of the Genocide Convention during the military offensive in Gaza.
Despite the withdrawal, Colombia reaffirmed its commitment to multilateralism, international law, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, as well as its readiness to continue promoting international peace, justice, and security.
The announcement coincides with the full normalization of diplomatic relations between Colombia and Israel, restored in August under President Abelardo de la Espriella. Relations had been severed in 2024 by the administration of Gustavo Petro (2022–2026) over Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, which Petro repeatedly characterized as genocide.
On Tuesday, Bula inaugurated the Colombian embassy in Jerusalem alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Both governments presented the event as a pivotal milestone in bolstering bilateral cooperation. EFE
pc/nav/eav
