Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has condemned Israel, alleging a “genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He likened Israel’s actions in Gaza to Adolf Hitler’s campaign to exterminate Jewish people.
At the African Union summit in Addis Ababa on Sunday, February 18th, Lula stated, “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide. It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children.”
Lula added, “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
Under Hitler’s leadership, the Nazis systematically murdered six million Jews during World War II.
Brazilian President Lula’s comments drew immediate criticism from Israeli officials.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced plans to summon Brazil’s ambassador for a reprimand, asserting Israel’s unwavering right to self-defense.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled Lula’s comparison as “disgraceful and grave,” condemning it as a trivialization of the Holocaust and an unjust attack on the Jewish people and Israel’s right to self-defense.
Lula’s remarks followed the condemnation of Israel’s offensive in Gaza and a call for its immediate cessation by leaders at the AU summit on Saturday.
In addition to previously denouncing the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 as a “terrorist” act, Lula has voiced increasing criticism of Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza.
Brazilian President Lula also supported South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice.
The conflict has resulted in a high number of deaths, with Palestinian authorities reporting over 28,850 deaths, predominantly among women and children, in Gaza due to Israel’s retaliatory actions.
Approximately 80% of Gaza’s population has been displaced from their homes, with a quarter facing the threat of starvation.
The Hamas-led attack on October 7 resulted in over 1,100 casualties, mostly civilians, with around 250 individuals taken captive.
Lula also criticized the decision by Western countries to suspend aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following accusations of employee involvement in the Hamas-led attack by Israel.
In response, Lula pledged to increase Brazil’s contribution to UNRWA and called on other nations to follow suit, stressing the importance of global solidarity and political awareness.
Lula reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for Palestine to be “definitively recognized as a full and sovereign state.”
