Ecuador to open embassy in Palestine

On Tuesday, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced via Twitter that “Ecuador has decided to open an embassy in Palestine,” to join the country’s “diplomatic mission in Ramallah” which he termed, “the heart of Palestine.”

Ecuador recalled its ambassador to Israel two weeks ago in protest of that country’s military action in the Gaza Strip.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa cancelled his trip to Israel, scheduled for later this year, in the aftermath of Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.

“We must continue to denounce this genocide,” he said in an interview with a local radio station, clarifying that the cancellation is in response to Israel’s policies vis-a-vis Gaza.

The decision comes after Ecuador recalled its ambassador from Israel, at the height of Operation Protective Edge. Correa mentioned that his country was the first in South America to do so. Four other countries say they are considering establishing a Palestinian embassy.