Nicaragua severs diplomatic ties with Israel

Nicaragua announced on Friday that it is severing diplomatic ties with Israel, labeling the Israeli government as “fascist” and “genocidal.” The Nicaraguan government attributed this decision to Israel’s military actions against Palestinian territories. Earlier that day, the country’s congress had adopted a resolution urging the government to take measures in alignment with the one-year anniversary of the Gaza conflict.

According to the Nicaraguan administration, the ongoing conflict has now expanded to include Lebanon and poses serious threats to Syria, Yemen, and Iran. The situation in the Middle East remains tense following Iran’s missile strikes on Israel on October 1. Iran supports the militant group Hezbollah, which has been the target of recent Israeli attacks. Additionally, Iran is an ally of President Daniel Ortega’s government. Nicaragua has faced increasing isolation in recent years, particularly after Ortega’s crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018, which resulted in approximately 300 fatalities, according to human rights organizations.