Bogotá summit

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Emergency Conference on Palestine
  • Bogotá summit
  • Bogotá conference
  • Bogotá meeting
← Launch conference of the Hague Group
(The Hague, 31 January 2025)		15–16 July 2025 (2025-07-16)
Bogota summit attendees.svg
  Countries that attended the Bogotá summit
  Countries that attended the Bogotá summit and agreed to the six measures proposed at it
Host countryFlag of Colombia.svg Colombia
City Bogotá
Venue San Carlos Palace
Participants
32 states
5 UN attendees
Other non-state attendees
President Gustavo Petro
SecretaryVarsha Gandikota-Nellutla
Website thehaguegroup.org/meetings-bogota-en/
Key points
  • Imposing an embargo on Israel to halt the Gaza genocide
  • Implementing international law to hold war criminals accountable
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro (left) speaks at the end of the Bogota summit, 16 July 2025; also pictured (left to right): Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla (Executive Secretary of the Hague Group), Zane Dangor (Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa), Rosa Villavicencio (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia), Riyad Mansour (Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN) and Francesca Albanese (UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories) 20250716Conferencia emergencia Palestina Andrea Puentes (2).jpg
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro (left) speaks at the end of the Bogotá summit, 16 July 2025; also pictured (left to right): Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla (Executive Secretary of the Hague Group), Zane Dangor (Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa), Rosa Villavicencio (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia), Riyad Mansour (Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN) and Francesca Albanese (UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories)

The Emergency Conference on Palestine, [2] more commonly referred to as the Bogotá summit, [a] Bogotá conference [b] or Bogotá meeting, [c] was a meeting of 32 countries held by the Hague Group in Bogotá, Colombia, on 15–16 July 2025. At the meeting, 12 of the attendees agreed to several measures intended to stop the genocidal acts committed by Israel during the Gaza war. It was hosted by Colombian president Gustavo Petro [19] and took place at the San Carlos Palace. [20]

Contents

Background

The Hague Group is a group of countries that was created in order to uphold and protect the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) relating to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The group was formed on 31 January 2025 by nine states from the Global South amid the Israeli offensive in Gaza. [21]

Since the start of the war in October 2023, an increasing number of experts and human rights organisations (including a United Nations Special Committee, Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières) have described Israel's warfare as consistent with genocide. [22] [23] [24] [25] In July 2025, amid weak international response, the Hague Group thus decided to convene an emergency meeting in order to counter Israeli escalations and halt the genocide; the Hague Group founders include South Africa, which in late 2023 formally accused Israel of genocide at the ICJ. [19] [21] [26]

Attendees

Group photo with the attending delegates 20250716Conferencia emergencia Palestina Joel Gonzalez.jpg
Group photo with the attending delegates

Nations whose representatives attended the summit include: [9]

Officials who attended included UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health Tlaleng Mofokeng, chair of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls Laura Nyirinkindi, and member of the UN Working Group on Mercenaries Andres Macias. [4]

Palestinian-American trauma surgeon Thaer Ahmad spoke about his experiences treating patients in Gaza during the summit. [3] Representatives from organizations such as the Hind Rajab Foundation also attended. [20]

Measures

Six measures against Israel were agreed to by 12 states at the summit. The measures are: [2] [5] [10] [14]

Results

The summit resulted in Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa signing the statement promising to implement the six proposed measures. [1] [11] [14] Representatives of other countries at the summit stated that they were still considering their stance, and would provide commitments by 20 September 2025, shortly after the start of the 80th UN General Assembly. [1] [3] [11] [14]

On 29 July, Turkey was the first country to follow suit and adopt the six measures, [27] later confirming the suspension of all trade and the closure of its airspace to Israel. [28] On 31 July, while not expressedly as part of the measures proposed in Bogotá, Prime Minister Robert Golob of Slovenia announced a full arms embargo against Israel, making it the first European country to do so; [29] on 6 August, Slovenia also banned exports from Israeli-occupied territories and approved an aid package for Palestinians. [30] Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also announced a series of sanctions, which include continued suspension of arms trade, as well as the implementation of measures of support for Palestine within the UN framework. [31] In June 2025, shortly before the conference, Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Harris introduced a proposal (the "Occupied Territories Bill") that would ban all trade with illegal Israeli settlements. [32] [33]

Reactions

Ahead of the conference, a US State Department spokesperson accused the Hague Group of attempting to "weaponise international law to push radical anti-Western agendas" and "delegitimize Israel", warning that they would "aggressively defend" their interests; this was dismissed by participants. Former State Department official Annelle Sheline, who had resigned earlier in 2025 over the US administration's involvement in Gaza, said that the attending states were upholding "their obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide". The US had recently sanctioned UN Rapporteur and Bogotá meeting attendee Francesca Albanese for her reports on the Gaza genocide. [3] [17]

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola described the event as "a collective affirmation that no state is above the law", saying "The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious –and that coordinated state action is possible." [34] The Israeli mission to the United Nations said that the summit was a "moral travesty" in a statement. [35] The World Jewish Congress said that the conference "will be nothing more than a long list of condemnations, rejections, appeals, and empty declarations, nothing that contributes to peace and coexistence between the two peoples." [36]

See also

Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine
portal
Flag of Israel.svg Israel
portal
Balance, by David.svg Law
portal

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
  2. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [1] [5] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
  3. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [3] [7] [15] [16] [17] [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Hague Group announces steps to hold Israel accountable in Bogota summit". Al Jazeera English . 16 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Joint Statement by the Hague Group on the Conclusion of the Emergency Conference on Palestine" (PDF). The Hague Group; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia; Department of International Relations and Cooperation. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hall, Mick (17 July 2025). "12 countries agree to confront Israel collectively over Gaza after Bogotá summit". Asia Pacific Report. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  4. 1 2 Eichner, Itamar (15 July 2025). "Over 20 countries join emergency summit in Colombia over Israel's alleged international law violations". Ynet . Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Gamba, Laura (16 July 2025). "Members of The Hague Group declare six 'concrete' steps against Israel at Bogota summit". Middle East Eye . Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Rakhmat, Muhammad Zulfikar (17 July 2025). "Indonesia stood with the Hague Group in Bogotá. It must go further for Palestine". Middle East Monitor . Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Group of The Hague moves to halt arms supplies to Israel". EFE . 16 July 2025. Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Hague Group Announces Steps to Hold Israel Accountable in Bogota Summit". ICTJ . 16 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 Gamba, Laura; Asem, Sondos (16 July 2025). "UN's Albanese calls out 'appalling' EU failure to sanction Israel as 32-nation summit in Bogota kicks off". Middle East Eye . Archived from the original on 16 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Bogotá conference calls for action against Israeli violations of international law". Irish Legal News . 17 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "States announce several measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference". SAnews.gov.za. Government of South Africa. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Albanese, Francesca (17 July 2025). "Francesca Albanese: Cut All Ties With Israel". Jacobin . Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "PI Briefing | No. 25 | To Bogotá". Progressive International . 12 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 States announce unprecedented measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference, Hague Group, 16 July 2025, Wikidata   Q135439417, archived from the original on 22 July 2025
  15. ↑ Rueda, Manuel (16 July 2025). "UN rapporteur calls for global action to stop 'genocide' in Gaza". Associated Press . Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "UN rapporteur demands global action to stop Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza". Al Jazeera English . 15 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Hague Group meets in Colombia to step up pressure on Israel over Gaza genocide". The New Arab . 17 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Esteban, Jimena (18 July 2025). "Nations urge arms embargo on Israel at Bogota meeting". China Daily . Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  19. 1 2 Wintour, Patrick (15 July 2025). "UN's Albanese hails 30-nation meeting aimed at ending Israeli occupation of Palestine". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  20. 1 2 Olivares, Jose. "In Colombia, The Hague Group Charges Israel With Genocide". Drop Site News . Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  21. 1 2 Wintour, Patrick (31 January 2025). "South Africa and Malaysia to launch campaign to protect international justice". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 31 January 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  22. ↑ "Rights expert finds 'reasonable grounds' genocide is being committed in Gaza". UN News. United Nations. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  23. ↑ 'You Feel Like You Are Subhuman': Israel's Genocide Against Palestinians In Gaza (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 4 December 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2024.
  24. ↑ "UN experts accuse Israel of genocidal acts and sexual violence in Gaza". BBC News . 14 March 2025. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025.
  25. ↑ "Gaza genocide". Médecins Sans Frontières . 10 July 2025. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025.
  26. ↑ Stacey, Diego (15 July 2025). "Colombia hosts first Hague Group summit to finalize action against Israel's Gaza offensive". El País . Archived from the original on 15 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  27. ↑ Asem, Sondos (29 July 2025). "Turkey to follow The Hague Group's measures against Israel 'to stop the genocide'". Middle East Eye . Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  28. ↑ Nelmes, Stephen (29 August 2025). "Turkey to 'completely sever' all trade with Israel". The National . Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  29. ↑ "Slovenia imposes arms embargo on Israel". Reuters. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  30. ↑ "Slovenia introduces ban on imports from Israeli-occupied territories". Reuters . Belgrade. 6 August 2025. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  31. ↑ Grandi, Guilherme (29 July 2025). "Brasil aplicará sanções a Israel por 'genocídio' em Gaza, diz chanceler na ONU". Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  32. ↑ Leahy, Pat (7 August 2025). "Occupied Territories Bill: US Congress group asks that Ireland be added to list of countries boycotting Israel". The Irish Times . Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  33. ↑ Ní Aodha, Gráinne; O'Mahony, Sarah (8 August 2025). "Ireland intends to pass trade ban with Israeli settlements amid pressure from US Congress". Irish Independent . Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Statement of unprecedented measures to halt the Gaza genocide at Bogotá conference". The Independent . 22 July 2025. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  35. ↑ Pannel, Alfie (17 July 2025). "Hague Group announces sanctions against Israel at Colombia summit". Latin America Reports. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  36. ↑ Peckel, Marcos (11 June 2025). "Marcos Peckel | A Warning Ahead of the Hague Group Summit in Bogotá". World Jewish Congress. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
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