Brazil quits Holocaust alliance as it backs genocide case against Israel

Brazil has quietly withdrawn from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) just days after formally backing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice – a dual shift in policy that has sparked outrage among Jewish groups and Israeli officials.

Though the Brazilian government has not issued a public statement, the withdrawal was confirmed by pro-Palestinian Brazilian groups, domestic media, and Israel’s foreign ministry. According to reports in Metrópoles, Brazil’s foreign ministry notified the Israeli embassy in Brasília last week.

Israel’s foreign ministry branded the move a “profound moral failure”, posting on X: “At a time when Israel is fighting for its very existence, turning against the Jewish state and abandoning the global consensus against antisemitism is both reckless and shameful.”

Brazil had held observer status at IHRA since 2021. Sources cited by national outlet UOL said budget constraints were a factor – though the timing has led to fierce criticism from Jewish leaders, who accused the government of undermining Holocaust remembrance for political purposes.

Fernando Lottenberg, Commissioner for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism at the Organisation of American States (OAS), called the move “a mistake” and warned it could impact Brazil’s 120,000-strong Jewish population.

“Being integrated into the IHRA is a way to demonstrate commitment to peace, Holocaust education, and the fight against antisemitism,” he said. “Especially at a time of rising hate, great care must be taken so that actions unrelated to diplomatic tensions do not affect the safety of the large Jewish community living in the country.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre’s Latin America office went further, stating: “Withdrawing Brazil from an international organisation that seeks to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and combat antisemitism is not a measure against the State of Israel. It is contempt for Jews.”

The Palestine Arab Federation of Brazil (FEPAL) celebrated the decision, claiming IHRA was “an arm of Zionism” used to “legitimise colonial and apartheid policies” and “criminalise” criticism of Israel. It also condemned Bill 472/2025, which aims to enshrine IHRA’s definition into Brazilian law, calling it “the Zionist Gag Bill.”

The IHRA definition has been adopted by more than 45 countries and 2,000 institutions globally. While not legally binding, it is widely used as a benchmark in identifying and responding to antisemitism.

Jewish News has contacted the Brazilian Embassy in the UK for comment.