Israel's foreign minister has stated that Brazil's president will not be welcomed in Israel until he apologizes for comments made comparing Israel's actions in Gaza to the Holocaust, which were deemed as a 'very serious antisemitic attack.'
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's remarks were made during the African Union summit in Ethiopia, where he likened the situation in Gaza to Hitler's actions against the Jews. This led to a strong reaction from Israeli officials, with the foreign minister summoning the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand at Israel's national Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Lula's comments, stating that they trivialized the Holocaust and crossed a red line. Israel maintains that its military operations in Gaza are defensive and rejects any comparisons to the Holocaust.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant death toll, with thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, losing their lives. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza reported at least 29,092 Palestinian fatalities, with a large number of civilians among the casualties.
Lula's comments came after leaders at the African Union summit condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza and called for an immediate end to the hostilities. The situation has sparked international criticism of Israel and calls for a cease-fire to prevent further loss of life.
Brazil's response to the situation included recalling its ambassador to Israel for consultations. Former foreign affairs minister Celso Amorim criticized Israel's reaction as 'absurd,' while Lula's wife defended his stance, emphasizing that his remarks were directed at the Israeli government's policies rather than the Jewish people.
The Brazilian government reiterated its commitment to a two-state solution, supporting the establishment of an economically viable Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel within mutually agreed borders.
