In a historic move, an alliance of Palestinian organizations, Colombian trade unionists, and indigenous groups successfully pushed Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro to announce a halt to the country’s coal exports to Israel. The decree came after prolonged efforts by the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD) and the Global Energy Embargo coalition, urging Colombia’s largest coal miners union, Sintracarbon, to ban coal exports to Israel until it complies with the International Court of Justice’s order to stop the assault on Rafah. This victory signifies a crucial step in the global campaign for a “total energy embargo” against Israel, with Colombia being Israel’s primary coal supplier.
Impact and Next Steps
The halt in coal exports has already prompted Israel to seek alternative suppliers like South Africa and Russia, facing economic challenges due to higher premiums. The coalition is now shifting its focus to South Africa and Brazil to stop coal and crude oil exports to Israel, respectively. This decision aligns with other countries like Turkey and the Maldives that have taken a stand against Israel’s actions. President Petro’s bold move reflects Colombia’s support for Palestine and sets a precedent for other nations to follow suit against injustice.