Brazilian president likens Israel's occupation of Gaza to what Hitler did

By Aynur Seyma Asan

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described Israel's occupation of Gaza as "genocide," likening it to the acts of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, according to local media.

"What is happening in the Gaza Strip is "not war, but genocide," Brazil's Canal Gov channel quoted Lula da Silva as saying.

"The events in the Gaza Strip have never occurred in any period of history. In fact, they did occur, when Hitler decided to kill the Jews," Silva told reporters during his visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, as part of the 37th African Union Summit.

Israel on Sunday criticized Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for comparing the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's Holocaust against Jews, with Tel Aviv announcing that it would summon the South American country's envoy for an official protest on Monday.

In a statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called da Silva’s statements “shameful” and “serious.”

“No one will harm Israel’s right to defend itself. I have ordered the people of my office to summon the Brazilian ambassador for a reprimand call tomorrow,” he added on X.