Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday his intention to break diplomatic ties with Israel due to its conduct in the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Speaking at a May Day rally in Bogotá's Plaza de Bolívar, Petro criticized Israel for the tragic loss of innocent lives in the conflict.

Petro, known for his background in opposition to Colombia's armed forces, made the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Israel, making Colombia the latest Western Hemisphere nation to take such action. Belize and Bolivia have also suspended or severed ties with Israel over its handling of the Gaza conflict.

The strained relationship between Colombia and Israel represents a significant shift in Colombia's international stance under Petro's leadership. Previously, the two countries maintained close relations, evidenced by Colombia being the largest overseas user of Israeli-made Kfir jet fighters.

This move comes as no surprise, as Petro had previously threatened to break relations with Israel in March through a post on the social platform X. In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry asserted their stance of not succumbing to any pressures or threats.

The announcement sparked reactions from politicians and experts worldwide. Senator Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, expressed his disappointment, describing Petro as a "Hamas supporter" and drawing parallels to Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

In his speech, Petro accused Israel's government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of being "genocidal." It is worth noting that Israel does have a president, Isaac Herzog, but the prime minister plays a more prominent role in governing and military operations.

Petro's popularity has seen a recent increase, despite public gaffes such as misspelling Colombia as "Cokombia" in a now-deleted social media post. He had faced low approval ratings in December, but a February poll showed an improvement to 35 percent approval.

As Petro's threat looms, the international community awaits the official implementation of Colombia's decision and the repercussions it may have on the regional dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.