Nicaragua breaks diplomatic ties with ‘fascist’ Israel
The government of Nicaragua has broken diplomatic relations with Israel, with the Central American nation accusing the Israeli government of being “fascist” and “genocidal”.
Nicaragua’s government said the break was due to Israel’s attacks on Palestinian territories, adding the conflict now also “extends against Lebanon and gravely threatens Syria, Yemen and Iran”.
Earlier on Friday, Nicaragua’s congress passed a resolution calling on President Daniel Ortega’s administration, an ally of Iran, to break ties with Israel to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Gaza war.
Nicaragua cutting ties with Israel latest expression of Palestinian solidarity: Analyst
Danny Shaw, professor of Latin American and Caribbean studies and international affairs analyst, said Nicaragua cutting off diplomatic ties with Israel was not its first show of support for the plight of Palestinians.
Nicaragua’s Vice President Rosario Murillo called the Israeli government “fascist” and “genocidal” on Friday as her government said diplomatic relations were being cut due to Israel’s attacks on Palestinian territory.
“It is not the first time that they have made these international moves. They brought Germany and the other Western supporters of the Israeli genocide to the International Criminal Court a few months ago. In the 1980s, when Nicaragua was subjected to a ‘dirty war’ from the United States, they brought the US as well to the International Court of Justice,” Shaw told Al Jazeera.
“Nicaragua is not alone. We’ve seen the Colombians. The Venezuelans. The Bolivians. The Cubans and many other countries in the Americas break relations with the Israeli government. These are countries that know colonialism and neo-colonialism quite well and that’s why they are showing solidarity with the Palestinians,” Shaw said.
A pro-Palestinian activist wears a T-shirt with an image of Latin American revolutionary leader Che Guevara during a march towards the UN building in Managua, Nicaragua
Until international law has ‘teeth’, Israel will continue to ‘mock’ courts: Analyst
More from Danny Shaw, professor of Latin American and Caribbean studies and international affairs analyst.
Noting that several other countries in the Americas had – like Nicaragua – broken diplomatic relations over Israel’s war on Gaza, Shaw also said that international condemnation without material sanction would not stop Israel’s aggression.
“Until human rights law and international law actually has teeth it means nothing,” Shaw told Al Jazeera.
“The Israelis and all of their Western backers – the Germans, the French, the English, and of course, the US government of Biden and Harris, which is the most guilty, because they continue to send tens of billions of dollars for ethnic cleansing, for apartheid, for this genocide; until there is actual material force. Until there is military force, the courts really mean nothing. Israelis mock them,” he said.
“But what is clear, is that in the court of international, global opinion, the world is quite aware that this is a genocide happening under our noses,” he added.
Nicaragua joins list of countries to break off diplomatic ties with Israel
Nicaragua joins several countries to cut ties or take diplomatic action against Israel since it launched its war on Gaza in October 2023.
- Bahrain – Withdrew its ambassador in November, saying the move “confirmed Bahrain’s historic position in support of the Palestinian cause”.
- Belize – Cut diplomatic ties in November while reiterating its call for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
- Bolivia – Cut diplomatic ties in November, citing “crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people”.
- Brazil – President Lula permanently withdrew his country’s ambassador in May after months of tensions over the war.
- Chad – Announced in November it was withdrawing its charge d’affaires for “consultations”, with the decision taken in “indignation” at the conflict.
- Chile – Withdrew its ambassador in November after accusing Israel of “unacceptable” human rights violations.
- Colombia – President Gustavo Petro cut diplomatic ties in May, calling the Netanyahu administration “genocidal”.
- Honduras – Withdrew its ambassador for “consultations” in November in light of the “serious humanitarian situation” unfolding in Gaza.
- Jordan – Announced it was recalling its ambassador in November, accusing Israel of creating an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe”.
- South Africa – Announced in November it was withdrawing three diplomats from Israel for “consultation” in response to the conflict.
- Turkey – Recalled its ambassador in November “in view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza”.
Spanish PM says he won’t ‘sit idly by’ when faced with Middle East crisis
Pedro Sanchez said that not acting in the face of spiralling conflict in the Middle East would be “unforgivable, morally and politically”.
“It would call into question the essence of the European project and the principles of international law and international humanitarian law. And we are not willing to do that,” the Spanish prime minister wrote on X.
“We will continue to raise our voice in defence of peace and against those who seek to establish a new order based on force,” he added.
Previously, we reported that Sanchez, speaking at a summit of European and Mediterranean leaders in Cyprus on Friday, had called Israel’s attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon “totally unacceptable”
