Prime Minister Lula stands firm, refusing to retract his remarks equating Israel with Hitler. In response, the Brazilian foreign ministry took swift action, summoning the Israeli ambassador for discussions and recalling Brazil’s ambassador from Israel.
Lula’s assertion that Israel is engaged in genocide against Palestinians, likening its actions in Gaza to Hitler’s atrocities against Jews, has ignited a diplomatic firestorm. Speaking to journalists during an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Lula condemned the situation in Gaza as not a war but a genocide, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on civilians, particularly women and children.
In the face of Israeli criticism, Brazil’s foreign ministry wasted no time in expressing its displeasure, convening discussions with the Israeli ambassador and recalling its envoy from Israel. Israeli officials, led by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, denounced Lula’s comments as anti-Semitic and demanded a retraction, declaring the Prime Minister unwelcome in Israel until he recants.
However, Lula remains resolute in his position, instructing that there will be no retraction and that any further communication with Israel will occur through diplomatic channels. The standoff between Brazil and Israel underscores the deep divisions and sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with diplomatic relations strained by divergent interpretations of events and historical analogies.
