Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz rebuked Brazilian Ambassador Frederic Mayer and declared that Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva would be considered persona non grata in Israel until he retracts his statement about the IDF's genocide.
The reprimand occurred during a meeting between Israel Katz and the Brazilian Ambassador at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum complex in Jerusalem.
The ambassador's summoning was prompted by a statement made by Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
He stated, "What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not war, but genocide. This is not a war between soldiers. A well-trained army is fighting against women and children. This happened only once: when Hitler decided to exterminate the Jews."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on President Lula da Silva's statement on February 18, accusing Israel of genocide and comparing Israelis to Hitler.
Netanyahu remarked, "The words of the President of Brazil are shameful and terrible. They show a disrespectful attitude towards the Holocaust and an attempt to attack the Jewish people and Israel's right to self-defense. Comparing Israel to the Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazis and Hitler crosses a red line. Israel fights for its protection and future until complete victory, while respecting international law. Foreign Minister Israel Katz and I have decided to summon the Brazilian Ambassador to Israel immediately to issue a severe reprimand."
It is worth noting that at the end of November, during the "prisoner exchange" process between Israel and Hamas, Brazilian Ambassador Federico Mayer remarked, "I don't understand why Hamas is releasing hostages, they are an asset."
Later, he clarified that he supported the release of hostages but did not understand Hamas's logic.
