Colombia expels Israeli diplomats after unlawful interception of Sumud Flotilla

Colombia expelled all remaining Israeli diplomats and ended the two countries' free trade agreement on Wednesday, after Israel's unlawful interception of the humanitarian Sumud Flotilla headed for Gaza in occupied Palestine.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro said two citizens of Colombia, Manuela Bedoya and Luna Barreto, were part of the effort to bring aid to Gaza and called for their immediate release.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops intercepted more than a dozen vessels that were part of the civilian-led maritime flotilla aiming to break the siege of Gaza.

The Israelis abducted several activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, the prominent climate justice activist who has been an outspoken critic of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

In a post on social media platform X, Petro described Netanyahu's actions regarding the flotilla as "a new international crime". 

Colombia had already cut off diplomatic relations with Israel in May of last year, after describing Israel's actions in Gaza a genocide, but four diplomats remained in the South American country. 

The free trade agreement ended by Petro had been in place since 2020, and as of 2024 sent $273m worth of exports to Israel, while Israel's exports to Colombia were worth $102m. Petro had already banned coal exports to Israel in August 2024 in protest of its war on Gaza.

Petro has been one of the strongest critics on the world stage of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and of Israel's genocide in Gaza. He delivered a scathing speech at the UN General Assembly in September excoriating the General Assembly of being a "mute witness to genocide" and urging member states to act.

During a pro-Palestine protest outside the UN, Petro gave a speech calling for an "army for the salvation of the world" that would as its first task undertake the liberation of Palestine.

He then turned his focus towards the US.

"I ask all of the soldiers of the army of the US not to point their guns at humanity. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity," Petro said. 

The US revoked Petro's visa to the US for his remarks at the protest. 

Flotilla

Israel has begun the process of deporting hundreds of activists who were on board around 40 vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla, after a day of interceptions by the Israeli navy.  

At least one vessel is still heading towards Gaza, but the remaining boats carrying vital aid to the Palestinian enclave were seized by Israeli forces and re-directed to Israel's Ashdod port.

Israeli authorities began deportation proceedings for activists on board without allowing them to receive legal advice, the legal and human rights organisation Adalah said.

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"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," Adalah said. 

"This constitutes a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants' fundamental rights. Adalah will continue to seek access and will take legal action as necessary."

The flotilla organisers had confirmed by Thursday afternoon that at least 21 ships had been intercepted by Israeli forces. 

A further 19 ships had not communicated with organisers since the early hours, and were assumed to have also been intercepted. 

At one point on Thursday morning, a tracker showed that the Mikeno ship had entered Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza. 

But Mikeno lost communication with organisers at 08:21 UTC, and its tracker has remained stationary since. It is assumed to have been intercepted. 

Each individual boat uses three methods to communicate with organisers: an Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracker, CCTV operated by a land-based support team, and radio communication. 

Organisers told Middle East Eye that Mikeno's location in Gaza's waters was based on AIS, but there was no update from anyone on board. 

As of 9am UTC, the Marinette vessel was still in contact with organisers and heading towards the enclave. It was one of the ships furthest away from Gaza, and will likely be intercepted once it approaches.

"Marinette is online and in great spirits," a source within the Global Sumud Flotilla told MEE. "They were behind the fleet and trying to catch up, which likely spared them."

Israel denied reports that Mikeno had entered Gaza's territorial waters, stating that no vessel had broken through its blockade of the territory.