Colombia has formally withdrawn from an ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) case accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, according to a statement issued from The Hague on Tuesday. The decision was communicated to the ICJ last Friday, though the Colombian government did not provide an official explanation for the move.

This withdrawal occurs amid a broader shift in Colombia’s foreign policy under its recently elected right-wing administration. Observers note that it aligns with a series of measures perceived as supportive of Israel. However, Colombia’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that pulling out of the ICJ case does not signal a departure from its commitments under the Genocide Convention. The ministry clarified that the country remains bound by the international legal obligations established in that treaty.

Israel welcomed Colombia’s decision. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly commended Colombian Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva as well as other officials for their stance, referring to the original ICJ case as a “false and malicious lawsuit” initiated by South Africa.

The ongoing ICJ proceedings, initiated by South Africa, accuse Israel of genocide related to its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The case has been a point of contention in international diplomacy, with Israel denying the allegations and characterizing the suit as politically motivated. Colombia’s withdrawal reduces the number of petitioning states in the case but does not halt the court’s examination of the matter.

The situation underscores the complexities of international legal efforts addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting divergent positions among countries regarding both legal accountability and geopolitical alignment.