"There Is No War in Gaza—This Is a Brutal Israeli Genocide": Brazilian President Lula da Silva

"There Is No War in Gaza—This Is a Brutal Israeli Genocide": Brazilian President Lula da Silva

Paris –
During a joint press conference in Paris, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza, calling them an act of "genocide." He also urged the international community to renew dialogue and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“This is not a war, this is genocide,” said Lula.

Speaking about the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, Lula added:

“A highly trained army is committing genocide against women and children.”

Lula criticized the biased response of the international community, saying:

“Recently, we mourned the death of two Israelis. But on the same day, two Palestinian children carrying sacks of flour were also killed—yet there was no comparable outpouring of solidarity for them.”

He reiterated his call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, describing the current structure as "politically weak" and ineffective in preventing or resolving global conflicts.

“Africa and South America must be represented. Major nations like Germany, Japan, and India also deserve permanent seats,” he insisted.

Macron’s Response: Gaza and Ukraine

From his side, French President Emmanuel Macron defended the Western stance on Gaza and Ukraine, emphasizing France’s efforts to coordinate with both regional and international partners to achieve a ceasefire and resume humanitarian aid.

“We are working in coordination with the Americans to apply pressure to secure a ceasefire and restart humanitarian operations,” Macron said.

He also announced that France is preparing for a major conference with Saudi Arabia on June 18, aiming to advance the formation of a Palestinian state and establish a regional collective security framework.

“We must decide whether we need to raise our voices and take concrete action,” Macron stated.

On the Ukraine War: Lula and Macron’s Diverging Views

President Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but emphasized the importance of peaceful dialogue:

“From the beginning, we have opposed Russia’s occupation of Ukraine,” said Lula.
“At the same time, we have made it clear that this war must end through negotiation.”

He explained that Brazil chose to maintain diplomatic relations with both Russia and China, and revealed that he had personally urged President Putin to pursue dialogue:

“I told President Putin: war creates nothing—it only destroys,” said Lula.

President Macron, however, maintained a firmer stance, placing sole blame on Russia and rejecting efforts to treat both sides equally:

“There is one aggressor—Russia, and one victim—Ukraine,” Macron stated.
“We all want peace, but we cannot equally blame both sides.”

He added that while Ukraine has expressed interest in peace talks, President Putin has repeatedly rejected ceasefire proposals.