Brazilian president compares Israel’s conduct in Gaza to Hitler killing Jews

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, comparing its military conduct to Nazi Germany. 

“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” da Silva said.

It isn’t a war, “it’s a genocide,” he continued. “It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted harshly to the Brazilian’s remarks.

“By comparing Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation, to the Holocaust, President da Silva has disgraced the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis and demonised the Jewish state like the most virulent anti-Semite. He should be ashamed of himself,” Netanyahu said.

Chairman of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan, also reacted to the comments, calling it an “outrageous combination of hatred and ignorance.”

“Comparing a country fighting against a murderous terror organisation to the actions of the Nazis in the Holocaust is worthy of all condemnation. It is sad that the president of Brazil has stooped to such a level of extreme distortion of the Holocaust,” he added.

Shortly after da Silva’s comments, foreign minister Yisrael Katz said Brazil’s ambassador to Israel would be summoned for a reprimand.

“The words of the president of Brazil are shameful and serious. No one will harm Israel’s right to defend itself,” he said. “Da Silva’s comparison between Israel and Hitler is |shameful and grave. No one will harm Israel’s right to defend itself.”