Colombia Approves Ban on Coal Exports to Israel as Punishment for Genocide in Gaza
Coal mines. Reference image. Photo: X/ @Qudsmn
August 18, 2024 Hour: 2:27 pm
The Colombian government approved the decree banning coal exports to Israel, as another measure of the Latin American country’s opposition to the war in the Gaza Strip.
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“With Colombian coal they make bombs to kill the children of Palestine,” said Sunday Colombian president Gustavo Petro in his X account, echoing the decree published by the media.
Thus, “exports to the State of Israel of thermal coal” are prohibited, according to the decree, which was signed by several ministers, including the chancellor, Luis Gilberto Murillo, on 14 August and will enter into force next week, despite the fact that the ban was already announced by Petro in June.
Fuels and products of extractive industries, including coal, are the main export of Colombia, and between January and June they have cost the country 11,689 million dollars, with the United States being the main destination.
The ban on coal exports to Israel had already been announced by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in June, but the decree had not yet been signed and at the time raised concerns among the business sector, They recalled that Colombia has a free trade agreement (FTA) with Israel and any export ban would violate it.
Colombia announced the break of relations with Israel which took effect on May 2 because of its opposition to the actions of that country in “the war that has been waged in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023”, and has also banned the purchase of weapons from this Middle Eastern country.
Autor: ACJ
Fuente: EFE