Colombia suspends coal sales to Israeli company over Gaza attack

Bogotá: Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Saturday that his government would stop coal exports to Israel as long as it continues its war against the Gaza Strip.

“We will suspend coal exports to Israel until the genocide stops,” the left-wing politician wrote on X.

In May, Petro – who has called Israel’s campaign in Gaza a “genocide” – announced that Colombia would sever ties with Israel over the conflict and open an embassy in Ramallah, Palestinian territory.

He also announced that Bogotá would stop buying weapons from Israel, one of the main suppliers of the South American country’s security forces.

According to the Colombian government, the coal export ban will come into force five days after the decree is published in the Official Gazette and will not affect goods whose shipment has already been authorized.