More Than 20 Countries, Including Spain and Ireland, to Take Tough Measures in Colombia to Stop Israeli Aggression in Gaza
[Colombia, July 12, 2025] – In response to the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, over 20 countries — including Spain, Ireland, Bangladesh, South Africa, and China — are preparing to jointly announce strict diplomatic and legal measures. The declaration is expected to be made during an emergency summit scheduled for July 15–16 in Bogotá, Colombia, co-hosted by Colombia and South Africa.
Summit Objectives
The main goal of the summit is to break the culture of impunity created by Israel and its allies and to take coordinated action against genocide, war crimes, and violations of international law.
The conference is being held under the initiative of the Hague Group, a newly formed alliance aiming to implement effective legal strategies to hold Israel accountable under international law.
The Hague Group was established on January 31, 2025, and currently has eight member states:
South Africa, Colombia, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, and Senegal.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated:
“The birth of the Hague Group was a pivotal diplomatic move. The Bogotá summit is an extension of that vision — where the world sends a clear message: no country is above the law, and no crime shall go unpunished.”
Countries Expected to Join the Declaration:
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Algeria
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Bangladesh
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Bolivia
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Brazil
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Chile
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China
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Cuba
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Djibouti
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Honduras
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Indonesia
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Ireland
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Lebanon
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Malaysia
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Namibia
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Nicaragua
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Oman
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Portugal
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Spain
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Qatar
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Turkey
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Uruguay
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Palestine
Key UN Officials and Human Rights Experts Attending:
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Francesca Albanese – UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories
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Philippe Lazzarini – Head of UNRWA
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Tlaleng Mofokeng – UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
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Laura Nyirinkindi – Chair of the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women
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Andrés Macías Tolosa – Member of the UN Working Group on Mercenaries
War and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Since October 2023, the Israeli offensive has led to:
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Over 57,000 Palestinian deaths
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Near-total displacement of Gaza’s population
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More than 2 million people facing starvation
Human rights organizations have classified the crisis as genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Actions Already Taken:
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South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
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Bolivia, Namibia, and Colombia have joined South Africa in support of the case.
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Namibia and Malaysia have denied Israeli weapons ships access to their ports.
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Colombia has severed diplomatic relations with Israel.
Possible Outcomes of the Summit:
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Support for arrest warrants against Israeli officials
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Call for a boycott of Israeli products
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Expansion of the Hague Group with more member states
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Pressure on the UN and international courts to take stronger action
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, coordinator of the Hague Group, said:
“This coalition was formed in response to global inaction and double standards. If international law applies only to some countries and not all, then it is no longer international law.”
