Colombia’s Foreign Ministry has announced a plan to provide medical treatment at a military hospital for Palestinian children injured in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Elizabeth Taylor Jay, the Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs, revealed that the children would be accompanied by their families to Colombia for rehabilitation, although specifics such as the number of children and exact timelines were not disclosed initially.
The announcement was made during President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Sweden, with no immediate response to requests for further details from either the ministry or the president’s office.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, countries like the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Germany have been receiving Palestinians requiring medical attention due to the violence initiated by Hamas-led militants attacking Israel, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking.
The toll on Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by the Health Ministry, has been severe, with over 36,000 fatalities, a figure that encompasses both combatants and civilians.
Historically close relations between Colombia and Israel have undergone strain since Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president elected in 2022, took office. Following Hamas’s assault on southern Israel, Petro recalled Colombia’s ambassador and later severed diplomatic ties with Israel, citing objections to what he termed a “genocidal” government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Deputy Minister Taylor Jay expressed confidence in Colombian military doctors’ capability to treat the injured Palestinian children, citing their experience gained from tending to victims of Colombia’s protracted internal conflict. Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Colombia has undertaken humanitarian efforts, including the repatriation of 310 citizens on three humanitarian flights.
Additionally, Petro granted Colombian nationality to a Palestinian woman and her children who were stranded in Gaza, facilitating their resettlement in Colombia in November.
This initiative underscores Colombia’s evolving foreign policy stance under President Petro, reflecting solidarity with Palestinians amidst global concerns over the humanitarian impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict.