Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva today accused Israel of committing a “genocide” of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, likening it to the extermination of Jews by the Hitler regime.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not a war, it is a genocide,” Lula told reporters from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was attending an African Union Summit.
“It is not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a very well-prepared army and women and children.”added the Brazilian leader.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian people has not happened at any other time in history. In fact, it already happened: when Hitler decided to kill Jews”he argued.
The remarks are among the most critical Lula has ever made about the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The 78-year-old leader had condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas against Israel, calling it a “terrorist” act.
But then he appeared highly critical of Israel’s military retaliation campaign.
Israel Summons Brazilian Ambassador for Explanations After Lula’s Statements Likened the Gaza War to the Holocaust
Israel accused Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of downplaying the Holocaust and insulting the Jewish people today after he likened Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza to the Nazis’ World War II genocide.
The foreign ministry in Jerusalem said it would summon Brazil’s ambassador to reprimand him for the comments, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “unacceptable and serious.”
“This is a downgrade of the Holocaust and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and Israel’s right to self-defense. Making comparisons between Israel and the Nazis and Hitler is crossing a red line.”Netanyahu said in a statement.
SOURCE: APE-ME
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