Israel has strongly condemned Brazil's President Lula da Silva after he accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, drawing comparisons to the Holocaust, according to BBC.

Lula asserted that Israel's military campaign involves a "highly prepared army and women and children."

In response, Israel accused Lula of trivializing the Holocaust and emphasized its mission to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages taken by the militant group on October 7.

The primary Jewish organization in Brazil also criticized Lula's comments.

"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. It's not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It's a war between a highly prepared army and women and children," Lula said at the African Union summit in Ethiopia.

Lula da Silva initially condemned Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages.

However, he has since expressed strong criticism of Israel's retaliatory military campaign, claiming it has caused significant civilian casualties, mainly women and children.

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International Backlash and Reprimand

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced its intention to summon the Brazil ambassador for a reprimand over Lula's remarks, Reuters reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deemed the comments "disgraceful and grave," stating that they trivialize the Holocaust and attack the Jewish people's right to self-defense.

Netanyahu declared such comparisons with Nazis and Hitler to be crossing a red line.

The Brazilian Israelite Confederation labeled Lula's statements a "perverse distortion of reality," accusing his government of an "extreme and unbalanced" stance on the conflict.

Lula da Silva also faced criticism for condemning the suspension of humanitarian aid to the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) without cutting off funding, referring to the situation as a "genocide."

Casualty Figures and Humanitarian Aid

At least 1,139 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, according to an Al Jazeera tally of Israeli official figures.

Hamas members took around 250 people captive, with 130 still in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, as per Israeli authorities.

In response, Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has resulted in at least 28,858 casualties, primarily women and children, according to Palestinian authorities.

Lula criticized Western countries for halting aid to UNRWA, urging an investigation into errors without discontinuing funding for those affected.

During the summit, Lula met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and pledged Brazil's increased contribution to the agency.

He called on other nations to follow suit, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the face of humanitarian challenges.

Lula da Silva reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for the definitive recognition of Palestine as a full and sovereign state.

The situation remains tense as international leaders grapple with differing perspectives on the ongoing conflict.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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