The lawmakers, including Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX), stated that the decision undermines efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. They noted that the action creates tangible risks for Colombia’s Jewish community amidst a reported surge in antisemitism. The statement specifically referenced Elkana Bohbot, an Israeli-Colombian dual national who was held hostage by Hamas for 209 days.
President Petro announced the diplomatic break following a period of escalating rhetoric in which he compared Israel’s actions to the Holocaust and labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “genocidal president.” In March, Petro had already stated that Colombia would stop purchasing weapons from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to the severance by accusing Petro of being “a hateful antisemite.” The US lawmakers’ statement characterized Petro’s comments as vitriolic and argued that the decision does not reflect the interests of the Colombian people, who have benefited from decades of security and economic cooperation with Israel and the US.
The diplomatic rupture occurred on the same day that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposed a trade ban on Israel, stating he could no longer “stand by and watch” the violence in Gaza. The Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7 with a Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted roughly 250, has driven about 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents from their homes. Local health officials in Gaza report a death toll exceeding 34,500. Israel states that militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
Rep. Salazar, whose district includes Key Biscayne, Florida, also criticized Petro on social media, describing his actions as “despicable” and arguing that he fuels antisemitism to divert attention from his government. She claimed that Colombia now aligns with Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. These comments come amid ongoing tensions in US-Colombia relations, including a recent dispute in which Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella endorsed Salazar for her November 3 reelection bid. Senior Democrat Gregory Meeks condemned that endorsement as foreign interference, though the two leaders subsequently held a telephone call on October 18 to reaffirm the importance of their bilateral partnership.
The congressional statement asserts that Petro’s actions embolden Hamas and undercut global pressure for hostage returns. It concludes by reaffirming the Latino-Jewish Caucus’s mission to foster multilateral ties between the United States, Latin American and Caribbean nations, and Israel.
