Brazil's action in protest against Gaza attack, called back its ambassador from Israel
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro had earlier canceled the purchase of weapons from Israel and compared the action in Gaza to Nazi Germany. Apart from this, in the region, Bolivia and Belize have also broken diplomatic relations with Israel. Let us tell you that the way Israel is responding to the attack of 7 October 2023 is being severely criticized.
Brazil's President Lula. (File photo)
Brazil on Wednesday recalled its ambassador after months of tension with Israel over the war in Gaza. Brazilian President Lula has taken this decision due to the Gaza war. Let us tell you that Lula has been criticizing the Gaza attack. The move was announced in Brazil's official gazette. At the same time, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that no official message has been received from the Brazilian government on this matter yet. However, following media reports, the Brazilian charge d'affaires has been summoned to appear at the ministry for a meeting today.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva has been continuously criticising Israel's attack in Gaza, which he compared to the genocide earlier this year. This prompted Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz to summon Brazilian Ambassador Frederico Mayer to the National Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem for a public rebuke.
Response to Mayer's insult
However, Wednesday's action is a diplomatic protest. The Brazilian Embassy in Israel still exists but there is no ambassador in post. According to a Brazilian Foreign Ministry official, Wednesday's expulsion was in response to the insult of Mayer by Israel's top diplomat.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said any appointment of a new Brazilian ambassador to Israel would be announced in a press release in due course. Currently, the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv is operating under the leadership of the charge d'affaires.
Pro-Israel group
The mayor has been transferred to Geneva and will join Brazil's permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations. A pro-Israel group in the country, the Israeli Confederation of Brazil, said on social media that it regretted the move.
It said the Brazilian government's unilateral decision takes us away from the Brazilian diplomatic tradition of dialogue. It also prevents Brazil from playing its role as a mediator and protagonist in the Middle East.
Eight months of war continue in Gaza
Let us tell you that the war in Gaza is going on for eight months. It started when the Palestinian terrorist Hamas group entered southern Israel in an attack on October 7, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking about 250 hostage. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 36,096 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's attack in response to that attack. Israel says it has killed 15,000 extremists.
In February, Brazilian President Lula said that what is happening to the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people has not been seen in history. In fact, this happened when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.
Condemnation of diplomatic move
Brazil's foreign ministry welcomed the formal recognition of the Palestinian state by Ireland, Norway and Spain this week. Brazil recognised the Palestinian state in 2010. The coordinated effort by the three Western European countries on Tuesday increased international pressure on Israel, which condemned the diplomatic move.
Diplomatic ties with Israel broken
Let us tell you that earlier this month Colombia broke diplomatic relations with Israel. Colombian President Gustavo Petro had earlier canceled the purchase of weapons from Israel and compared Israel's actions in Gaza to Nazi Germany. Apart from this, in the region, Bolivia and Belize have also broken diplomatic relations with Israel.