“Israel Is Committing Genocide Against Innocent Civilians in Gaza” – Brazilian President Lula da Silva
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | July 6, 2025
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has strongly condemned Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip, labeling them as “genocide.” Speaking at the BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Lula delivered a forceful critique of Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
In his address, Lula stated:
“What Israel is doing in Gaza is genocide—indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war. We cannot remain indifferent to this.”
His remarks came at a time when fresh negotiations between Hamas and Israel over a ceasefire were taking place in Doha, Qatar, under mounting international pressure to end the 21-month-long bloody conflict.
Condemning Both Hamas and Israel’s Actions
Lula made it clear that the October 7, 2023, terror attack by Hamas has no justification.
However, he also sharply criticized Israel’s response, stating:
“In the name of retaliation, nearly 57,418 people have been killed in Gaza—most of them civilians.”
Divisions Within BRICS
Lula’s remarks exposed divisions within the BRICS bloc regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza and recent airstrikes in Iran. While some member states refrained from direct condemnation, others expressed strong disapproval.
Despite differences, BRICS leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and called for reforms in Western-dominated global institutions.
Lula added:
“BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement formed during the Cold War. Today, multilateralism is under attack, and our sovereignty is once again at risk.”
Expansion and Key Absences in the BRICS Summit
Initially formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the BRICS group later added South Africa. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were admitted as full members.
However, notable absences marked this year’s summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend in person, instead sending his prime minister as representative. Russian President Vladimir Putin participated via video conference to avoid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Nonetheless, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the presidents of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and others attended in person.
BRICS now represents half of the world’s population and nearly 40% of global economic output. The alliance is emerging as a new platform for global leadership, positioned as an alternative to Western-led coalitions. More than 30 countries have already expressed interest in joining BRICS as full members or partners.
Analysts note that the crises in Gaza and Iran are driving a new phase of global geopolitical polarization, with BRICS playing an increasingly pivotal role.
