Brazil’s radical leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday compared Israel’s self-defense actions against the genocidal terrorist group Hamas to the Holocaust, a comment that reportedly led to his expulsion from Israel. He insisted that it was not a serious incident.
Lula said this in an interview with Brazilian channel RedeTV on Tuesday night. justified He criticized Israel, claiming that the use of the word “Holocaust” was an “interpretation” of the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“First of all, I did not say the word ‘Holocaust.’ ‘Holocaust’ was the interpretation of the Israeli prime minister. It wasn’t mine,” Lula said. “The second thing is that death is death.”
Throughout February, Lula repeats accused Israel has demanded that the United Nations recognize Palestine as a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, accusing it of committing “genocide” and killing “women and children” in self-defense operations against Hamas. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.
Lula repeatedly criticized Israel during his official tour of Africa and ultimately criticized Israel’s actions in remarks at a press conference after attending the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa earlier this month. Comparisons were made to the actions of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust.
“What is happening with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is unparalleled at any other historical moment. In fact, it existed when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” Lula said. Said at that time.
Mr. Lula’s comparisons worsened already deteriorating diplomatic relations between Israel and Brazil.Lula immediately pulled both. praise From Hamas and violent forces condemnation From Israel who declared Lula persona non grata They banned him from visiting Israel until he issued a formal apology and retracted his comments.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Lula’s foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim both said Lula would not apologize.Amorim claimed At the weekend, he argued that Israel should instead “apologize before humanity.”
Lula continued: Lede TV The interview “reaffirmed” Brazil’s position condemning Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack, but added: “It is difficult to see Israeli forces committing similar barbarities against innocent people. I can’t.”
Lula said he had called for a ceasefire and the creation of humanitarian corridors for food and medical aid since the start of the self-defense operation.
“Brazil was the first country to condemn Hamas’s terrorist acts,” Lula insisted. “First Nation. But I cannot condemn Hamas’ acts of terrorism, nor can I see the state of Israel, through its military and prime minister, doing the same barbaric things against innocent people.” .”
“In other words, what we’re asking for is for the shooting to stop so that food, medicine, doctors and nurses can arrive and we can open humanitarian corridors so that we can treat people. That’s it.” he continued.
Lula did not directly name Netanyahu, but stressed that he did not expect the Israeli government to “understand” Netanyahu’s demands. [Netanyahu] “For a while” and know “what he thinks ideologically.”
In response to the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, the Brazilian government issued the following statement: statement There, he expressed his “rejection of terrorism in all its forms.” However, the statement did not include a direct condemnation of Hamas and its actions against him.
Sources within the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed CNN to Brazil In October, it was said that Lula’s intention was to avoid raising the profile of terrorist groups, arguing that a similar position had been adopted in past conflicts. CNN Brazil Nevertheless, branches of the Brazilian government have said they are sympathetic to Hamas and consider the terrorist organization “important” to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
a report Lula’s recent comments and the Brazilian government’s continued condemnation of Israel could lead to attacks by “lone wolf” jihadists and possible acts of violence against the Jewish community, according to a report published Monday by Argentine news agency Infobae. He claimed that there was a growing fear of
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
