Israel condemns Brazilian President's likening Gaza war to Holocaust

Israel has strongly condemned Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for comparing the war in Gaza to the Holocaust on Sunday, accusing him of being antisemitic and trivializing the Nazi genocide of European Jews during World War II.

The remarks by Lula was made during the African Union summit in Ethiopia, likened the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust, which Israel vehemently rejects. 

Speaking to media persons at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, the Brazilian President said, “What is happening in the Gaza Strip and to the Palestinian people hasn’t been seen in any other moment in history. Actually, it did when Hitler decided to kill the Jews."

Netanyahu calls Lula's remarks  as 'trivializing the Holocaust'

Condemning Lula's remark, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as "trivializing the Holocaust" and accused him of being a "virulent anti-Semite."

הדברים של נשיא ברזיל מבישים וחמורים. מדובר בזילות השואה ובניסיון לפגוע בעם היהודי ובזכותה של ישראל להגן עצמה.

ההשוואה בין ישראל לשואת הנאצים ולהיטלר היא חציית קו אדום. ישראל נלחמת למען הגנתה והבטחת עתידה עד לניצחון המוחלט והיא עושה זאת תוך שמירה על הדין הבינלאומי.

החלטתי עם…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 18, 2024

Israel FM summons Brazil’s ambassador

Foreign Minister Israel Katz went further, summoning Brazil’s ambassador to Israel for a reprimand and labeling Lula’s remarks as "shameful and serious."

הדברים של נשיא ברזיל מבישים וחמורים. אף אחד לא יפגע בזכותה של ישראל להגן על עצמה. הוריתי לאנשי משרדי לזמן את שגריר ברזיל לשיחת נזיפה מחר.

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) February 18, 2024

He wrote on the microblogging platform X, "The words of the president of Brazil are 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."

Tensions between Israel and Brazil have escalated since President Lula returned to office, with Lula positioning himself as a leader of the Global South.' However, Israel's rejection of any comparison between its actions in Gaza and the Holocaust has exacerbated the strained relations.

Israel-Hamas war

The war in Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas militants in October, which has resulted in thousands' loss of life, including Palestinians and Israelis including civilians, and widespread damage to infrastructure.