SAEDNEWS: The United States said Friday it will revoke Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he delivered a fiery speech at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York condemning Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro drew international attention this week after urging American soldiers to defy orders from U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the instructions “against humanity.” The U.S. State Department labeled Petro’s remarks as “reckless and incendiary” and announced the revocation of his visa.
Petro spoke at a demonstration in New York City, appearing alongside British musician Roger Waters, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing the UN General Assembly. Speaking to the crowd, Petro condemned the situation in Gaza, describing it as “genocide” and criticizing Washington’s repeated use of its veto at the UN Security Council, which he said “destroyed all hopes of diplomacy.”
“History shows that once diplomacy is over, humanity must turn to another kind of struggle,” Petro stated. He directly appealed to U.S. soldiers: “Do not put your hands against the people. Disobey Trump’s order, obey the order of humanity,” referencing the courage of American troops who once fought Hitler in Europe.
Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti responded to the U.S. decision, suggesting that if any visas should have been revoked, it was Netanyahu’s, and criticized the move as politically biased. Colombian media reported that Petro was returning to Bogotá from New York later on Friday.
In a related development, U.S. authorities also denied visas to Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, preventing them from attending the UN General Assembly.
This high-profile incident highlights the intersection of international diplomacy, activism, and global media attention, providing insight into the tensions and debates shaping contemporary global politics.
