I read a headline here in the newspaper that said: Brazil’s proposal rejected. It’s not true, it’s a lie. It wasn’t rejected. There were 15 votes at stake, she had 12, two abstentions and one against. How could she be rejected? It was vetoed because it is so crazy that the five countries that hold the Council are given veto power, which I am absolutely and radically against. That’s not democratic.
Lula, having breakfast with journalists
In an interview in Itamaraty after the veto, Chancellor Mauro Vieira defended the Brazilian proposal, arguing that it came about after hearing the demands of all council members. “Our concern during this time has always been humanitarian and ultimately each country will have had its own inspiration,” said the Chancellor.
Lula has publicly pushed for a ceasefire to remove civilians from conflict zones that appear further away after the U.S. veto. The government has been negotiating for days about allowing a group of Brazilians to leave Gaza across the border with Egypt and is sending the presidential plane waiting in Cairo to rescue them.
“My concern is with the Brazilians,” the president said. “That’s why we made it a point to provide Brazilian aircraft to take everyone who was there. It doesn’t matter who it was.”
We’ll try to find everyone [os brasileiros]. Because that is the role of the Brazilian government. If I have information: “Look, Lula, there is a president of this country who is a friend of Hamas,” then I will call him: “Hey man, tell Hamas to fucking release the hostage, say Tell the guy to do it.” Release the hostage, why hold on to the innocent?
Lula, about Brazilians in Gaza
Netanyahu’s “madness”
The president once again described Israel’s response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks as “madness,” this time attributing them directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stressing that he wanted to “put an end to the Gaza Strip.”
It is not because Hamas committed a terrorist attack against Israel that Israel has to kill millions of innocent people. It is not possible for people to lack sensitivity. If the UN were strong, the UN could intervene more. The United States could become more involved. But people don’t want it, people want war.
Lula