It “is not a war, it is a genocide,” he assured.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel this Sunday of committing a “genocide” of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
He also drew parallels between the current situation and the extermination of the Jews carried out by the Hitler regime.
“This is not a war of soldiers against soldiers.
It is a war between a highly prepared army and women and children,” said the Brazilian leader, during an intervention to the press from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), where he is attending a Union summit. African.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has not happened at any other time in history.
In fact, this has already happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” he insisted.
NEW - Brazilian leftist leader Lula da Silva compares Israel's actions in Gaza to Adolf Hitler's campaign to exterminate Jews.pic.twitter.com/N7E10qXbsB
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 18, 2024
These remarks are among the most virulent comments ever made on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas by Lula, a prominent voice from the South, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20.
Criticism of Israel's retaliation
The 78-year-old leader condemned Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, calling it a "terrorist" act in the process.
But he has since been very critical of Israel's military campaign of retaliation.
Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israeli soil resulted in the deaths of 1,160 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.
The attackers also took around 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are still in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israeli figures.
The bombings and ground offensive since carried out by Israel in Gaza have killed at least 28,985 people, the majority women and children, according to the Hamas health ministry.