When the lights went out under Jair Bolsonaro's government, Brazil joined 52 other countries in choosing to abstain from the UN vote. But in 2023, already under Lula's government, the country changed its stance and made the political decision to submit its own assessment to the Court. Around 50 countries will do the same later this week in what is expected to be the biggest meeting of the UN justice body since its founding in 1945.
In the Brazilian case, a diplomatic delegation was sent to The Hague. However, the process in which Brazil will take part is not the same as that initiated by South Africa against Israel over its attacks on Gaza. Nor is it about requests to the International Criminal Court to investigate the crimes of genocide committed by Israel.
What will Brazil's participation look like?
For the UOLDiplomats point out that Brazil's speech to the court could be a pivotal moment in clarifying the country's entire legal standoff on the Palestinian issue. Government members have 30 minutes to present the national position in the face of the decadeslong crisis in the Middle East.
The crisis, which erupted after Lula compared what happened in Gaza to the actions of the Nazis in World War II and Israel's decision to declare the Brazilian persona non grata, increased interest in the stance taken by Itamaraty during the meeting will take.
Later this week, governments will present their legal arguments to judges at the International Court of Justice. In addition to the situation in Gaza itself, they will also discuss the occupation of regions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.