Brazil has severed all diplomatic ties with Israel.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s decision to recall the Brazilian ambassador to Israel comes after a series of contentious remarks regarding the Gaza conflict, likening it to Nazi genocide during World War II.
The rift between Brazil and Israel deepened following comments made by President Lula da Silva, where he drew parallels between Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany. Speaking at an African Union summit, da Silva asserted, “What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has no parallel in other historical moments. In fact, it did exist when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, swiftly condemned da Silva’s statements, leading to the reprimand of the Brazilian ambassador. In response, Brazil took the unprecedented step of recalling its ambassador on Monday, effectively cutting off all diplomatic relations with Israel.
Katz declared President Lula da Silva “persona non grata” in Israel until he retracted his controversial remarks. However, da Silva stood firm on his stance, prompting Brazil to escalate the diplomatic standoff by severing all ties with Israel.
