Colombia announces the appointment of an ambassador to Palestine after cutting ties with Israel.

Colombia appoints its first ambassador to the Palestinian territories in a significant diplomatic move reflecting its new political stance. Jorge Ivan Ospina, former mayor of Cali and a member of leftist movements, as well as the son of a leader of the armed group M-19, of which President Gustavo Petro was a member, is the first to hold this position. The appointment came after the approval of the Palestinian Authority on May 5th and a decree from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 22, 2025. This step follows President Petro's decision in May 2024 to sever diplomatic relations with Israel, accusing Netanyahu's government of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza, in addition to opening the Colombian embassy in Ramallah in the West Bank in 2024. In statements to Agence France-Presse, Ospina confirmed that he has not yet decided whether he will carry out his duties from Ramallah or a neighboring country, emphasizing the need to coordinate with Israel to facilitate the embassy's work. He affirmed that Colombia recognizes the Palestinian state and supports its right to peaceful coexistence alongside Israel. This appointment reflects a prominent diplomatic shift in Colombia's policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, strengthening relations with Palestinians amid regional tensions, coinciding with international protests over the shortage of humanitarian aid to Gaza and some countries rejecting ceasefire efforts.