His remarks came in response to criticism from Israel after he publicly supported Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had compared the ongoing conflict in Gaza to Adolf Hitler’s campaign to exterminate Jewish people during the Holocaust.

“It is outrageous to murder children with bombs. I am outraged against genocide,” Gustavo Petro said.

He further emphasized that the majority of Latin America stood against israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, which he likened to the brutality of the biblical figure Herod.

Petro also took aim at the United States’ role in the conflict. He criticized the U.S. vetoes at the UN Security Council, which hindered efforts to secure an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. According to Petro, the global community must choose between cruelty and barbarism or a path toward a more humane civilization.

The Colombian leader’s message resonated with many who repudiate the extermination of the Palestinian people. He called for solidarity with President Lula of Brazil, asserting that in Gaza, a genocide was unfolding. Thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, were being cowardly murdered. Petro’s unwavering stance on truth and justice underscored the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region. (ILKHA)