President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s recent statements likening Israel’s Gaza military operation to the Holocaust have ignited a diplomatic firestorm between Brazil and Israel.
During a press briefing at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Lula drew parallels between Israel’s actions in Gaza and Adolf Hitler’s atrocities against Jews in World War II, referring to the situation as a “genocide.”
Israeli officials swiftly condemned Lula’s remarks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeling them as “disgraceful and serious.” Foreign Minister Israel Katz denounced the comments as antisemitic and demanded an apology to the Jewish people, declaring that Lula would not be welcomed in Israel until he retracts his statements.
In response, Brazil has taken diplomatic action, recalling its ambassador to Israel and summoning Israel’s ambassador to Brazil for discussions in Rio de Janeiro. This move signals Brazil’s firm stance on the issue and highlights the growing discord between the two nations.
Domestically, Lula’s remarks have sparked criticism, with the Brazil-Israel Institute denouncing them as inappropriate and raising concerns about potential rises in antisemitism.
