Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian President, compared the Israeli conflict with Hamas militants in Gaza to the Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazis in World War II.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments.” During the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Lula informed reporters, “In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
The Israeli foreign minister said on Monday that the Brazilian President is not welcome in Israel until he retracts comments comparing the Gaza war to the Nazi genocide.
“We will not forget nor forgive. It is a serious anti-Semitic attack. In my name and the name of the citizens of Israel, tell President Lula that he is persona non grata in Israel until he takes it back,” Katz’s office reported that Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Brazil’s ambassador.
The Brazilian foreign ministry has already initiated discussions with the Israeli ambassador and recalled its own ambassador to Israel in response to the formal reprimand issued by Israeli officials regarding Lula’s remark.
Lula has instructed that no retractions be made, and any responses will be provided via diplomatic channels, according to the sources.
The Israeli air and ground offensive has killed over 29,000 people, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities, and displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million inhabitants.
