Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the opening of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said Wednesday.
Murillo told reporters the move is part of the foreign policy objective Petro is promoting together with other governments to recognize a Palestinian state.
The announcement was made hours after Spain, Ireland and Norway said they would recognize a Palestinian state, and weeks after Petro announced that Colombia would break diplomatic relations with Israel over its actions in Gaza.
Murillo reiterated Wednesday that Colombia condemns the aggressions of Hamas, but rejects Israel’s response. He also argued that the intention to open an embassy in Ramallah is not a measure against Israel but rather in favor of the two states.
It’s unclear when a Colombian embassy in Ramallah would open and what steps would need to be taken to do so.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli embassy in Colombia for comment.