Luis Inacio Lula da Silva
Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images
Moscow. February 19. INTERFAX.RU – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva does not intend to apologize to Israel for criticizing the military operation in the Gaza Strip and comparing it with the Holocaust, CNN Brasil reported on Monday, citing the special adviser to the head of state for international affairs, Celso Amorim.
“We always speak out with great respect and in defense of the two-state solution (Israel and the future Palestinian state – IF)“We have nothing to apologize for,” he said, commenting on Israel’s decision to declare Lula da Silva persona non grata until he apologizes for his remarks.
“Israel has put itself in a position of increasing isolation,” he added.
The day before, the Brazilian president called what was happening in Gaza genocide against the Palestinian people.
He also said that he considers it wrong for Western countries to stop funding the UN agency in the Near East to help Palestinian refugees. Lula da Silva stressed that it is necessary to preserve humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel reacted sharply to these statements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Brazilian president had “crossed a red line.”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. Over 1.2 thousand people became victims of the attack, another 240 people were taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a military operation against Hamas. In the Gaza Strip, the number of victims of the Israeli operation exceeded 29 thousand people, over 68 thousand were injured.
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2024-02-19 14:28:00
