ALWAGHT- Nicaragua's government announced it is cutting diplomatic ties with Israel, citing the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza that has claimed over 42,000 lives, with more than half being women and children.
Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo announced on Friday that the government is cutting diplomatic ties with Israel. Earlier that day, Nicaragua's Congress passed a resolution urging the move to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Gaza war. The Nicaraguan government expressed concerns that the conflict now threatens Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
Murillo, wife of President Daniel Ortega, said the decision followed Ortega’s directive to sever ties with the “fascist” and “genocidal” Israeli regime. Israel's war on Gaza, which began on October 7 in response to Hamas' Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, has claimed at least 42,150 Palestinian lives and injured 98,117 more. Many remain missing under rubble.
This marks the third time Nicaragua has cut ties with Israel, previously doing so in 2010 and 1982 under Ortega’s leadership. The break comes amid growing global isolation of Israel due to its Gaza campaign and escalating conflicts in West Asia, including Lebanon.
Latin American leaders, including those of Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. On Friday, the Palestinian mission to the UN announced that these three nations had led a letter of support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after Israel declared him persona non grata. Earlier this year, Colombia severed ties with Israel, while Brazil recalled its ambassador.
