Nicaragua calls Israel an ‘enemy of humanity’ – cuts diplomatic ties with Jerusalem

The Republic of Nicaragua on Friday announced its decision to sever diplomatic ties with Israel, claiming the Israeli government is “fascist and genocidal” in its military response against the Iranian-backed terrorist militia Hamas, which invaded and attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 people dead and alive, some of whom are still being held hostage in Gaza.

Nicaragua’s left-wing President Daniel Ortega, a vocal critic of the Jewish state, personally ordered the diplomatic move against Israel, according to Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s spouse. The move is seen to be largely symbolic as bilateral relations between Israel and Nicaragua barely exist. Israel currently has no embassy presence in the country.

The Nicaraguan resolution called Israel the “enemy of humanity” and accused the Jewish state of “genocide, occupation and permanent aggression against the life and dignity of the Palestinian people, which is now spreading to the people of Lebanon and seriously threatening Syria, Yemen, and Iran, endangering peace and security in the region and the world.”

At the same time, Nicaragua has overlooked the actions of Iranian-backed terror proxies in the region who have launched attacks against Israel, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Central American country “reiterated [Nicaragua’s] warm and constant consideration for the dear families of the Israeli people, who deserve our affection, support, and solidarity, and who are living difficult times as a result of the excessive brutality and hatred of the Israeli government.”

This is the third time that Nicaragua has cut diplomatic relations with Israel. In 1979, the Sandinista Revolutionary Government, led by Ortega, broke off relations with Israel, and the move was repeated once again in 2010.

In early November 2023, barely a month after the Oct. 7 terror attack, the South American country of Bolivia, announced its intention to cut diplomatic relations with Israel.

“Bolivia decided to break diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip,” Bolivian Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani stated at the time.

In early May, Colombia announced that it would cut diplomatic relations with Israel due to the ongoing war with Hamas. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called the Israeli government "genocidal" and refused to condemn the Hamas attack.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz blasted Petro, saying: “History will remember that Gustavo Petro decided to side with the most despicable monsters known to mankind who burned babies, murdered children, raped women and kidnapped innocent civilians.”