Brazilian President's Statement on Gaza Conflict Triggers Diplomatic Turmoil

26-02-2024

Mariana Mayor Lima

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 37th African Union Summit on February 18, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (of the Worker’s Party) compared Israel's response to Hamas terrorist attacks in Gaza to Hitler's actions against Jews, describing the situation not as a war, but as “genocide.” [1] “It's not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It's a war between a highly prepared army and women and children,” as he characterised the ongoing situation. [2] The controversial comparison came through the following statement: “What's happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn't happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.” [3] The President further clarified, “Brazil has condemned Hamas, but Brazil cannot refrain from condemning what the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip.” [4]

The statement from the leader, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20, came after being questioned about the decision of some countries to suspend financial assistance to the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. [5] This recent funding cut was prompted by Israel's accusation that UNRWA officials were involved in Hamas’ activities. [6] More specifically regarding this fact, the president further stated: “When I see the rich world announce that it's halting its contributions to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, I just imagine how big these people's political awareness is and how big the spirit of solidarity in their hearts is”. [7]

The Brazilian president's comparison sparked various reactions worldwide, especially among those directly involved in the conflict. Clear critical reactions came from the highest echelons of the Israeli government; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Lula's statement could be considered “Holocaust trivialization and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and the right of Israel to defend itself.” [8] Similarly, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Lula had committed an “immoral distortion of history,” and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “President Lula supports a genocidal terrorist organization - Hamas, and in doing so brings great shame to his people, and violates the values of the free world.” [9]

The situation escalated when Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared Lula persona non grata in Israel and stated that the status would only be changed with an apology from the Brazilian president. [10] The term persona non grata is a legal mechanism used in international relations to indicate that a foreign official representative is no longer welcome in a country. [11] This concept was initially outlined in Article 9 of the Vienna Convention, a treaty signed in 1961 that establishes the rules to be followed by nations in their diplomatic relations, to which Brazil is a signatory. [12]

According to Mauro Vieira, Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs, this episode can be considered “a shameful page in the history of Israeli diplomacy,” and in a disapproving move, Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the then Israeli ambassador to Brazil and called back Frederico Meyer, Brazil's ambassador to Israel, from Tel Aviv. [13] Lula's comments at the African Union Summit also resonated among the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which described the statements as “an accurate description” of what people are facing in the Gaza Strip. [14]

Lula's statement also reverberated internationally. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had a “frank exchange” with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday, February 21st, during which the Secretary of State made it clear to the Brazilian leader that the United States did not agree with his recent statements about Israel's war in Gaza. [15]

In the Latin American context, Colombia and Bolivia supported Brazil. On Tuesday, February 20th, Gustavo Petro, Colombia's president, and Luis Arce, Bolivia's president, expressed support for Lula after Israel criticised him for characterising the Gaza conflict as “genocide” against the Palestinians and comparing it to the Holocaust. [16] According to Petro, “In Gaza, there is genocide, and thousands of children, women, and elderly civilians are cowardly murdered. Lula just spoke the truth, and the truth is defended, or barbarism will annihilate us.” [17] Arce stated, “[They] express all our solidarity and support to the brother president of Brazil, declared persona non grata in Israel for telling the truth about the genocide that is committed against the brave Palestinian people.” [18]

Debates about the current situation in the Gaza Strip continue as the numbers only increase, and there is no ceasefire in sight. Since the October 7th, 2023, the Gaza Strip has witnessed the loss of over 29,514 lives, with women and children comprising 70 per cent of the casualties, and nearly 1 million women and girls are among 1.9 million individuals who were forced to leave their homes. [19] In addition to these figures, approximately 69,465 people were injured, and around 2.2 million are facing intense hunger in the region. [20] These alarming numbers and heated diplomatic debates highlight the seriousness of the events in the region and the necessity for international humanitarian law to be respected.

Sources and further readings:

[1] G1, 'Lula compara resposta de Israel em Gaza à ação de Hitler contra judeus; Netanyahu convoca embaixador do Brasil para reunião, e Conib repudia fala do petista' (18 February 2024), <Lula compara resposta de Israel em Gaza à ação de Hitler contra judeus; Netanyahu convoca embaixador do Brasil para reunião, e Conib repudia fala do petista | Política | G1> Accessed on 23 February 2024.

[2] France 24, 'Brazil's Lula accuses Israel of 'genocide' in Gaza' (18 February 2024), <Brazil's Lula accuses Israel of 'genocide' in Gaza> Accessed on 23 February 2024.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Le Monde, 'Brazil's president stirs controversy by comparing war in Gaza to the Holocaust' (19 February 2024), <Brazil's president stirs controversy by comparing war in Gaza to the Holocaust> Accessed on 26 February 2024.

[5] Supra note 1.

[6] Supra note 1.

[7] Supra note 2.

[8] Supra note 2.

[9] Supra note 2.

[10] Al Jazeera, 'Colombia, Bolivia back Brazil's Lula in Israel row over Gaza war comments' (21 February), <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/colombia-bolivia-back-brazils-lula-in-israel-row-over-gaza-war-comments> accessed on 26 February 2024.

[11] Brasil De Fato, ''Persona non grata': o que significa termo usado por Israel para se referir a Lula após fala sobre massacre em Gaza e Holocausto' (19 February 2024), <'Persona non grata': o que significa termo usado por Israel para se referir a Lula após fala sobre massacre em Gaza e Holocausto.> accessed on 26 February 2024.

[12] United Nations, 'Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961' (2005), <Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961> accessed on 26 February 2024.

[13] Supra note 10.

[14] Supra note 2.

[15] Reuters, 'Blinken tells Lula that US disagrees with his Israel remarks' (21 February 2024), <Blinken tells Lula that US disagrees with his Israel remarks | Reuters> accessed on 25 February 2024.

[16] Supra note 10.

[17] Supra note 10.

[18] Supra note 10.

[19] UNRWA, ‘UNRWA Situation Report #82 on the Situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem’ (February 26, 2024), <UNRWA Situation Report #82 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem> accessed February 26, 2024.

[20] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ‘Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #94 Situation Report’  (January 17, 2024) <Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #94 [EN/AR/HE] - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb> accessed March 1, 2024.