Because of Gaza! Colombia stops coal deliveries to Israel ᐉ News from Fakti.bg – World

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced yesterday that his country would soon stop exporting coal to Israel as long as the war in the Gaza Strip continues, France Press reported, citing BTA.

“We will suspend coal exports to Israel until it ends the genocide,” the president of the South American country wrote in “Aix”.

In May, he announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel and called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “genocidal” because of the way it is conducting the war in Gaza. Petro also stopped buying Israeli-made weapons – one of the main suppliers to the South American country’s security forces.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry’s decree states that the suspension of coal exports will remain in effect “until the interim measures ordered by the United Nations International Court of Justice” are fully implemented.

At the end of May, the UN’s highest court ordered a halt to Israeli operations in the city of Rafah and the opening of the “Rafah border crossing to allow unhindered delivery” of humanitarian aid. It also ordered the immediate release of hostages held in the besieged enclave.

Although the decisions of the United Nations International Court of Justice are legally binding, there are no mechanisms for their implementation, according to AFP.

According to the Colombian government, the suspension of coal sales will take effect five days after its publication in the country’s Official Gazette and will not affect shipments for which a transport permit has already been requested.

According to the Israeli Embassy in Bogota, Colombia was Israel’s largest coal supplier in 2023, with exports valued at about $450 million.