The vice president and wife of dictator Daniel Ortega confirmed the severance of diplomatic relations with the Israeli government, hours after the National Assembly approved a declaration making that request.
The National Assembly of Nicaragua unanimously approved a declaration asking dictator Ortega to break diplomatic relations with Israel due to the ongoing war with the terrorist group Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians.
“The National Assembly of Nicaragua respectfully requests the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity to consider breaking diplomatic relations with the genocidal and Zionist government of Benjamin Netanyahu,” states the four-page declaration read by the president of the National Assembly during a plenary session attended by diplomatic guests from Palestine and other countries allied with Ortega’s dictatorship.
A few hours later, Murillo announced that the Foreign Ministry had already been instructed to sever relations with Israel, following the request from the National Assembly.
“Our president has instructed the Foreign Ministry of the Republic to comply with the national parliament’s request and proceed with the severance of diplomatic relations with the fascist and genocidal government of Israel,” Murillo said in her usual communication through official media.
She added that the decree ensuring the fulfillment of this diplomatic break would be made public in the coming hours.
Ortega’s dictatorship’s support for the Palestinian people has also led it to justify the crimes of Hamas, a terrorist organization that carried out a massacre after invading Israel’s border on October 7, 2023, further escalating the conflict along the Gaza border. The Nicaraguan dictator is also an ally of Iran, which recently launched missiles toward Israel in the context of the war.
“The Government of Israel, enemy of humanity, seeks to extend its barbarity throughout the Middle East, endangering peace and global security. All of this is done with the complicity and logistical and military support of the American and European empires, who are the true perpetrators of the murders and atrocities committed by their spearhead: the Criminal Zionist Regime,” states the declaration approved by the Nicaraguan parliament.
The special session was attended by ambassadors from the diplomatic corps of Mexico, Cuba, Russia, Palestine, among other nations. Nicaragua’s Foreign Minister, Valdrack Jaentschke, was also present and spoke during the session.
The Consul of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Nicaragua, Dina Alhalayqa, expressed her deepest gratitude for the unwavering support of the Nicaraguan people and government for the Palestinian cause.
Other actions against Israel
Ortega’s dictatorship has promoted other international actions to demonstrate its solidarity with Palestine.
On January 23, 2024, Nicaragua requested authorization from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to intervene in the case brought by South Africa against Israel for alleged violations of the UN Genocide Convention during its war in Gaza.
The statement issued at the time affirmed that “as a State Party to the Genocide Convention, Nicaragua has the obligation to prevent genocide and to cooperate with other contracting parties for that purpose.”
Ortega called on Israel to “immediately end its military assault on the Palestinian people.”
Additionally, in May of this year, Nicaragua accused Germany before the ICJ of complicity in genocide in the Gaza Strip and of supplying arms to Israel. According to Nicaragua, the supply of German weapons to Israel could facilitate genocide in the Gaza Strip. Germany rejected the claim, considering it unfounded. The ICJ also dismissed Nicaragua’s request.