Lula says children are not responsible for Hamas’ “terrorism.”
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) commented again this Friday (20) on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and made a new appeal to children affected by wars. According to the president, children are not responsible for Hamas’ “terrorism.”
“On behalf of the living children of our country, thanks to social inclusion programs, I want to show solidarity with the children who have already died in the war between Russia and Ukraine and are now dying in this mad battle between Hamas and the State of Israel,” he said.
“This is not possible. That much irrationality is not possible. That much madness is not possible. That people are waging war, considering that the people who are dying are women, that they are elderly, that they are children who don’t even have the right to life,” continued.
In addition to criticizing the actions of the terrorist group Hamas, Lula also referred to the Palestinian children killed in the Gaza Strip and described Israel’s reaction to the attacks as “insane.”
“And today, when the Bolsa Família program turns 20, I keep reminding myself that 1,500 children have already died in the Gaza Strip. They also did not ask Israel to react insanely and kill them, the very ones who did nothing have to do with the war,” he explained.
1 of 1 President Lula attends the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Bolsa Família via video conference Photo: TV Globo/Reproduction President Lula attends the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Bolsa Família via video conference Photo: TV Globo/ reproduction
During his speech, Lula also said that he should return to Planalto Palace next week.
“One thing to make clear to you is that I am going back to the Palácio do Planalto next week. I’m already getting up and standing on my own. Mano Menezes has already asked me to come back and play for Corinthians.” “Diniz is thinking about me being called up to the national team,” the president joked.
The ceremony on Friday was attended by Ministers of Development and Social Welfare, Family and the Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias. for Environment, Marina Silva; for Agricultural Development and Family Farming, Paulo Teixeira; including the President of Caixa, Rita Serrano.
President Lula’s participation was preceded by speeches from government officials and a former Bolsa Família beneficiary.
Raquel Lima Clemente spoke about the impact of the program on her life story and her academic education. “I already needed Bolsa Família, today I don’t need it anymore. We have to fight for what we want, but don’t deny your roots, don’t forget where you come from.”
During the event, commemorative plaques commemorating the program’s 20th anniversary were also distributed to employees involved in the implementation of the project.
Caixa Econômica President Rita Serrano emphasized that the increase in Bolsa Família beneficiaries shows the government’s commitment to the population, especially the most vulnerable.
“With the income transfer of the program, this contributes an average value of R$14 billion per month to the country’s economy. The Bolsa Família program is great today in all its numbers,” he said.
More than 3 million families benefiting from Bolsa Família have left the poverty line after the launch of the new model in March 2023. Now, nearly 92% of families participating in the program are out of range, the best number in history.
The number of families with children aged zero to six years outside the poverty line also increased and is now 84%. The new model provided for a minimum amount of 142 reais per person, in addition to benefits for children, adolescents and pregnant women.
More than 300,000 families participating in the Bolsa Família program have been warned about noncompliance with requirements. Of these, more than 170,000 had their benefits blocked for 30 days.
To receive the benefit, families must meet health and education obligations, especially for children, such as:
- vaccination according to the annual calendar;
- Monitoring the diet of children under 7 years old;
- school attendance;
- including prenatal care.