Colombia's incoming government formally announced Friday that it will withdraw its involvement in the lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and restore the historic alliance between the two countries, according to Israeli media. The decision follows a meeting between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his Colombian counterpart in Washington.
The incoming Colombian government formally announced Thursday evening that it will withdraw its involvement in the lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and restore the 'historic alliance' between the two countries. The announcement was first reported by Israeli media, with subsequent official confirmations from the office of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella and Israel's Foreign Ministry. The decision follows a meeting between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Colombian Foreign Minister-designate Omar Bula Escobar in Washington.
The desk first reported the withdrawal at 20:58 Jerusalem Thursday, citing a Channel 14 report. Within the same hour, the president-elect's office confirmed the decision, and Israel's Foreign Ministry issued its own statement. The confirmation chain moved from an initial unverified report to official sources on both sides.
The withdrawal is the latest step in a rapid diplomatic rehabilitation. As The Zioneer reported on July 16, Sa'ar and Escobar agreed to fully restore diplomatic and economic ties, with the renewal set to take effect after the new president's inauguration on August 7. On July 2, Israel published a tender for a new ambassador to Colombia. On June 24, President-elect de la Espriella pledged to rebuild ties 'stronger than ever.' The incoming government has also committed to opening an embassy in Jerusalem.
The formal withdrawal from the ICC case eliminates a key point of tension between the countries. The previous administration under Gustavo Petro had joined the South Africa-led case at the International Court of Justice and severed diplomatic relations in 2024. The precise legal mechanism for withdrawing the ICC case remains to be implemented, but the political decision is now official.
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Source and signal
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