Colombia converts confiscated gold into humanitarian hope for Gaza

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, known for his unwavering support for Palestine, has pledged to send aid to Gaza in the form of gold confiscated from traffickers. The gold, according to Petro, will be used to help rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure, nearly 80 percent of which was destroyed by the Israeli occupation army.

He made the announcement as world leaders signed a peace agreement brokered between Hamas and Israel. Under the deal, Gaza’s reconstruction will move forward with the collaboration of various countries and international organizations.

President Petro said that the Special Assets Society would send “gold seized from drug traffickers” to help wounded children in Gaza receive medical treatment through financial aid generated from the assets.

Colombia’s Special Assets Society later confirmed its compliance with Petro’s directive and released a statement saying: “In response to the recent instruction from the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro Urrego, regarding the possibility of allocating gold under the administration of the Entity for the Reconstruction of Gaza and the strengthening of artisanal mining communities in Colombia, coordinated work has begun to assess the feasibility of this measure.”

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President Petro, who previously vowed to “fight” for Gaza, also proposed the formation of a “world army” to assist in reconstruction efforts and ensure long-term stability in the enclave, a proposal he said he intends to present as a resolution at the United Nations.

According to UN estimates, around $70 billion is required to fully rebuild Gaza’s devastated infrastructure, while $20 billion is needed immediately to accelerate development within the next three years.