Colombia officially appointed Jorge Iván Ospina as its first ambassador to the State of Palestine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. Ospina, the former mayor of the city of Cali, is known to be a close political ally of President Gustavo Petro.

The appointment marks a significant diplomatic step by the Colombian government, following President Petro’s decision in May 2024 to sever diplomatic ties with Israel. The president had accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the move comes a year after Petro announced plans to open a Colombian embassy in Ramallah, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Ospina’s appointment as “Ambassador to the Government of the State of Palestine” was made official after receiving approval from Palestinian authorities on May 5. The formal decree was signed by Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia on May 22.

This appointment underscores Colombia’s growing diplomatic engagement in the Middle East and its continued support for the Palestinian cause in international forums.