BOGOTÁ: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced that gold seized from drug traffickers in Colombia will be sent to Gaza to support humanitarian relief efforts, particularly for the medical treatment of injured children.
In a social media post, President Petro said that the Special Assets Society of Colombia will utilize the confiscated gold to provide medical facilities and assistance in the war-torn region of Gaza.
He further announced that Colombia will present a resolution at the United Nations, calling for the establishment of an international peacekeeping force dedicated to Gaza’s reconstruction.
While Petro’s announcement has been widely praised across the Middle East, it has also faced criticism within Colombia, where many argue that the country—already struggling with armed conflict and poverty—should focus on domestic challenges before extending foreign aid.
President Petro has previously described Israel’s military actions as genocide, and in 2023, Colombia severed its diplomatic and trade relations with Israel.
It is noteworthy that on October 13, during a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Gaza Peace Agreement was signed.
The summit was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and several other world leaders.
The agreement was co-signed by the heads of state of the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar as guarantors.
On the occasion, President Trump hailed the development as a “historic day for the people of Gaza”, declaring that the Gaza Peace Agreement marks a major step toward lasting peace in the Middle East.
