Brazil Recalls Ambassador to Israel over Regime’s Genocide in Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Israel in a diplomatic rift over the Brazilian president's comparison of Tel Aviv's actions in Gaza to Adolf Hitler's actions.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized Israel's military aggression, calling it "genocide" and noting the disproportionate impact on civilians.
Lula's comments were made at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, where he stated, "What's happening in the Gaza Strip isn't a war, it's a genocide." He emphasized the impact on women and children, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry confirmed the recall of the ambassador "for consultations" and summoned the Israeli ambassador to Brasilia. Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz reacted strongly, summoning Brazil's ambassador for a reprimand and declaring Lula "persona non grata" in Israel until he retracts his comments.
Despite the Israeli demand for a retraction, Reuters reported that Brazil does not intend to backtrack on Lula's statements. The Brazilian president's stance on Israel has been critical, with previous comments condemning Israel's actions in Gaza as unjustifiable.