Israel is under pressure in Latin America

Bolivia announced (🇧🇴) Tuesday it was severing ties with Israel in response to the “aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive” in Gaza.

It’s the first to sever ties, though Argentina and Chile have echoed the sentiment, while Brazil and Colombia have accused Israel of genocide.

For its part, Israel says it expects fellow democracies to support Israel’s right to protect its citizens, and to call on Hamas to release its hostages.

Intrigue’s take: Israel is no stranger to isolation. And Hamas’s remarks overnight (calling for Israel’s “annihilation” and vowing to repeat the October 7th attacks) will have reaffirmed Israel’s sense of the stakes here.

But for its backers like the US, invested in sustaining support for a world order under pressure, each new repudiation will be cause for concern.

Also worth noting: 

• The UN Human Rights Office says this week’s Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp “could amount to war crimes”. Israel says it was targeting Ibrahim Biari, Hamas Commander for Central Jabaliya.