Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has recalled his ambassador to Israel as tensions rose between both countries, following Lula’s sharp remarks against Israel’s war on Hamas.
According to the statement released by the Brazilian foreign ministry, the ambassador has been recalled “for consultations.”
The Brazilian government yesterday summoned the Israeli ambassador for a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, citing “the seriousness” of statements made by Israeli officials.
Tel Aviv had reprimanded the Brazilian ambassador for the comments made by Lula, which compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to the Holocaust.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” Lula said.
“It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children,” Lula added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Lula of trivialising the issue, saying “This is a trivialisation of the Holocaust and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and the right of Israel to self-defence. Drawing comparisons between Israel and the Nazis and Hitler is to cross a red line.”
This is not the first time the Brazilian government has condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza. In November, he said, “I have never seen such brutal, inhumane violence against innocent people.”
Brazil’s president initially condemned the October 7 Hamas-led attack, but since then has been critical of the Israeli government initiative in Gaza.
The rift highlights the growing discord between Israel and other countries that have been reluctant to align themselves in support of its military action in Gaza, most notably South Africa and Brazil.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in the invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led strike that killed over 1,200 people on October 7.
