Israel has announced its decision to summon the Brazilian ambassador in response to comments made by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Lula described the situation in the Gaza Strip as a “genocide,” drawing parallels to historical atrocities, particularly the Holocaust orchestrated by Hitler.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Lula’s remarks, accusing him of trivializing the Holocaust and attempting to undermine Israel’s right to self-defense. Netanyahu emphasized that comparing Israel’s actions to the Nazi regime’s atrocities crossed a red line.
Israel reiterated its commitment to upholding international law while defending itself, emphasizing its goal to completely eliminate Hamas following attacks on October 7. Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu’s sentiments, asserting that no one would infringe on Israel’s right to defend itself.
He announced the summoning of the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand call to address Lula’s comments.
In addition to his remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lula also commented on the death of Alexey Navalny, a Kremlin critic. He called for a thorough investigation into Navalny’s death, refraining from immediately blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin. This stance contrasts with the swift condemnation of Putin by many Western nations.
Lula’s plea for an impartial inquiry into Navalny’s death underscores the importance of objective investigation processes in such cases. However, his comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict have heightened diplomatic tensions between Brazil and Israel.
The summoning of the Brazilian ambassador reflects Israel’s firm stance against what it perceives as inflammatory rhetoric that undermines its security and historical sensitivities.
