News - World: Colombia has officially approved a ban on coal exports to Israel as punishment for its ten-month-long genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said in his statement on Sunday, "Colombian coal is used to manufacture bombs that kill Palestinian children."

Thus, “exports to…Israel of thermal coal” are prohibited, according to the decree, which was signed by several ministers, including the chancellor, Luis Gilberto Murillo, on August 14 and will enter into force next week.

Colombia was one of Israel’s largest coal suppliers.

According to Bloomberg, President Petro signed a decree banning coal exports to Israel. The decree, published on the presidential website, is dated August 14.

Petro also announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Israel and cut off arms purchases from Israel earlier in the year.

Colombia also joined the genocide case against Israel brought forth by South Africa in the International Court of Justice.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas appreciated President Petro for reaffirming his country’s decision to prohibit the export of coal to Israel.

 “We express our gratitude for the brave stance of the Republic of Colombia in ending diplomatic relations with the Zionist entity, in condemnation of the genocide that the Zionist occupation is committing against our people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement issued on Sunday night.

“We call on all countries to sever their relations with this fascist entity, to work by all means to boycott, isolate, and impose sanctions on it, and to prosecute its leaders as war criminals in international courts,” it added.

According to the Colombian government, the export ban will enter into force five days after the decree was published in the official gazette.

On May 1, the Colombian head of state said the country had decided to cut its diplomatic relations with the Israeli regime over the war.

"And we here in front of you, the government of change, the president of the republic informs that tomorrow diplomatic relations” with the Israeli regime “will be cut," Murillo said at the time, adding, "[We cut diplomatic ties] because of them having…a genocidal president.”

This comes as the death toll from more than 10 months of genocide has already surpassed the grim milestone of 40,000.

More than 92,000 others have also been injured in the regime attacks.

Hunger, malnutrition and lack of medical supplies are also taking their toll on the Palestinian population.

Source: Press TV