Bolivia has severed its diplomatic ties with Israel, becoming the first Latin American country to do so.
This decision was made in protest of what Bolivia perceives as “aggressive and disproportionate” Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Bolivia has called for a ceasefire and expressed its intention to provide aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
But an Israeli official said the move was “a surrender to terrorism”.
Lior Haiat, Israeli foreign minister accused the Bolivian government of “aligning itself with the Hamas terrorist organization”.
Bolivia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani said that the government had taken the decision to cut ties “in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip”.
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He added that the country wanted an end to Israel’s blockade that was preventing “the entry of food, water and other essential elements for life”.
Gaza has been under an Israeli siege for weeks, with essential aid only reaching people through Egypt’s Rafah crossing sporadically.
“Israel condemns Bolivia’s support of terrorism and its submission to the Iranian regime, which attest to the values the government of Bolivia represents,” Mr Haiat said in response.
Bolivia is not the only Latin American country to have begun taking diplomatic steps against Israel.
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric announced on Tuesday he was recalling the country’s ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultations “given the unacceptable violations of International Humanitarian Law that Israel has incurred in the Gaza Strip.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also called for Israel’s ambassador to leave the country before stepping back the comments.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged a ceasefire. Following reports of a new Israeli air strike in Gaza, Lula said on X: “We are seeing, for the first time, a war in which the majority of those killed are children… Stop! For the love of God, stop!”
The majority of the 8,500 war deaths reported by the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza are of adults but they include 3,500 children.
Bolivia only restored diplomatic relations with Israel in 2019. It had previously cut ties with the country in 2009 under President Evo Morales, again to protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
On Monday, Bolivia’s President Luis Arce described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “war crimes” on X after meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Bolivia, Mahmoud Elalwani.