Solidarity with President Lula following his statement on the crimes of the State of Israel

At a press conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday 18 February the Brazilian president, when asked what he thought of the stance of countries that have cut off aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said that Brazil condemns the actions of the Israeli army just as much as it condemned the 7 October attack by Hamas, because what is happening at the moment is not a war, but what he called genocide. More than 26,000 Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the war began in October 2023. 

According to his allies, the Brazilian president's statements are supported by international law and the recent decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in judgement of the accusations made by South Africa against the Israeli government of crimes that include killing Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip; causing serious mental and bodily harm to the population; deliberately imposing conditions to cause physical destruction on a group. Which typify the crime of genocide. In the same court, the Brazilian government has also stated that it considers Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory to be illegal.

Lula da Silva's statement comes just as Israeli forces are preparing for an incursion into the city of Rafah, which is home to more than 1 million Palestinians. The US, the strongest ally of the Israeli government, despite having vetoed for the third time a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, has also expressed concern about the announced offensive on Rafah. In addition, the leaders of Canada, Australia and New Zealand issued a joint statement calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Brazilian president's speech and the important positioning of countries with a strong diplomatic tradition demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a peaceful solution for the region with the creation and recognition of a Palestinian state have been fundamental in preventing more civilian deaths including women and children.

PSI affiliates around the world have been organizing events and taking action. Recently the Canadian affiliates of PSI, representing more than 2 million workers, demanded that the Canadian government reverse its decision to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the main aid agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and throughout the region.

People over Profit!

Peace over war!

Ceasfire now!