Colombia calls for ‘uniting world armies’ to liberate Palestine at UNGA

New York – 25 September 2025: Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called on the global south to “unite armies and weapons” to “liberate Palestine” amidst the ongoing war in Gaza.

In his last speech before the United Nations’ General Assembly, Petro stressed that “humanity cannot allow another day of genocide, nor allow genocide perpetrators like [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu nor his allies in the United States and Europe to remain free.”

“I invite the nations of the world, and their peoples in particular, as part of humanity, to unite armies and weapons. Palestine must be liberated,” Petro said.

“We heard too many words already; it is the hour of the sword.”

Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 65,400 people, displaced most of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.

Ongoing strikes and restrictions on aid have also pushed the territory into famine.

Despite global condemnation, Israel has recently intensified its bombardment of Gaza City, home to nearly one million people, ordering all residents to evacuate toward the south.

Israel is facing allegations of committing genocide in Gaza following a UN report last week.

The United Nations’ commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel stated in its report that Israeli forces and authorities carried out four of the five acts defined under the Genocide Convention.

These include committing mass killings, causing serious harm, and deliberately creating unlivable conditions.

The commission also slammed statements made by Israeli officials as a “direct evidence of genocidal intent.”

Moreover, another UN-backed food security analysis released in August has officially confirmed that famine is underway in Gaza City, marking the first such declaration since the onset of the Israeli war.

Despite widespread famine, Israel has continued heavy restrictions on aid deliveries to the enclave, particularly in Gaza City, halting the so-called “tactical pauses” in fighting, which the army announced in July to allow further aid deliveries.

Israel has blocked flotillas led by international activists who aimed at breaking the Israeli besiege on Gaza and deliver aid to population.

Global Sumud Flotilla this week accused Israel of launching drone attacks on their aid boats bound for Gaza, while sailing in the Mediterranean.

The attacks on the flotilla, comprising dozens of boats carrying activists from at least 44 countries, have prompted Italy and Spain to dispatch vessels for assistance.