Colombia to open embassy in Palestinian territory of Ramallah
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Colombia, whose president has described Israel's campaign in Gaza as "genocidal," said Wednesday it will open an embassy in Ramallah in the Palestinian territories.
Foreign Minister Luis Murillo told reporters that President Gustavo Petro -- an ardent critic of Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu -- had given instructions "that we install the embassy of Colombia in Ramallah" in the West Bank.
The announcement came on the same day Ireland, Norway and Spain announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war.
An unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
The militants also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,709 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Colombia severed ties with Israel as Petro called Netanyahu "genocidal."
Earlier this month, he called for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader.
On Monday, the prosecutor of that court said he has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defense minister and top Hamas leaders.