Governments like mine have a duty to stand up to Israel. Far too many have failed | Gustavo Petro

Without decisive action, we risk stripping the global legal order of its remaining protections for less-privileged nations

• Gustavo Petro is the president of Colombia

Over the past 600 days, the world has watched Benjamin Netanyahu lead a campaign of devastation in Gaza, the escalation of regional conflict, and a reckless abandonment of international law at large.

Governments such as mine cannot afford to remain passive. In September 2024, when we voted for the United Nations general assembly resolution on Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, we assumed concrete obligations – investigations, prosecutions, sanctions, asset freezes, and cessation of imports and arms. That resolution set a deadline of 12 months for Israel to “bring to an end without delay its unlawful presence”. One hundred and twenty-four states voted in favour, including Colombia. The clock is now ticking.

Gustavo Petro is the president of Colombia

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