Lula Classifies Israel's Actions in Gaza as "Genocide" and Expects International Action
May 16, 2025
In a recent statement during a press conference in Beijing, President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again classified Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip as a "genocide", reiterating criticism of the actions of the Israeli government, which have already killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry. Lula highlighted the need for urgent UN intervention to end the conflict, stating that the current situation is not a war, but a "decimation of civilians, especially women and children".
The Brazilian president also compared the stance of former US President Donald Trump with that of Joe Biden, praising Trump for defending peace in Ukraine and expressing hope that he can contribute to ending the conflict in Gaza. "Trump talks about peace, while Biden fueled speeches of war", said Lula, while also mocking a controversial proposal by Trump to transform Gaza into a "resort".
Lula's statements sparked strong reactions, including condemnation from the Israeli Confederation of Brazil (Conib), which accused the president of promoting "anti-Semitic discourse" by omitting the role of Hamas in the beginning of the conflict. Meanwhile, Brazilian parliamentarians were divided: government supporters defended the speech as courageous, while the opposition criticized the comparison with the Holocaust and even proposed impeachment. Lula reinforced his defense of a two-state solution and criticized the UN's inaction, stating that the Security Council is "weakened" and does not represent the interests of the 21st century. While the international community debates the ceasefire, the president's words echo as a call for humanitarian justice, but they also spark controversy over the balance in criticism of the conflict.
El Presidente Lula