Brazil’s Lula doubles down, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the inauguration of the Gentileza transportation terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 23, 2024. (AP/Bruna Prado)
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the inauguration of the Gentileza transportation terminal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 23, 2024. (AP/Bruna Prado)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva alleges that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, doubling down on harsh rhetoric after stirring controversy last week by comparing Israel’s war with the Hamas terror group in Gaza to the Holocaust.

Lula writes on X, formerly Twitter, that he will not give up his “dignity for falsehood,” an apparent reference to calls for him to retract his previous comments.

“What the Israeli government is doing is not war, it is genocide,” he writes. “Children and women are being murdered.”

Israel has vehemently pushed back against genocide claims, saying its war is targeting Hamas, not the Palestinian people. It holds Hamas responsible for civilian deaths, arguing that the group operates from civilian areas.

In response to Lula’s initial comments last week, Israel declared him a persona non grata, summoned Brazil’s ambassador and demanded an apology.

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