1 of 1 Lula in the photo from September 22nd — Photo: Adriano Machado/Portal Lula in the photo from September 22nd — Photo: Adriano Machado/Portal
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) published this Wednesday (11) on a social network an appeal to the international community and the United Nations in favor of the children in the conflict zone between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
In the statement, Lula explains:
“I would like to appeal to UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres and the international community to jointly and urgently use all resources to put an end to the worst human rights violations in the Middle East conflict,” the message says.
“Children should never be taken hostage, no matter where in the world. Hamas must release Israeli children kidnapped from their families. Israel must stop the bombing so that Palestinian children and their mothers can leave Gaza across the border with Egypt. There must be a minimum of humanity in the madness of war,” he continues.
Lula said that as head of the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, Brazil “will join the effort to bring the conflict to an immediate and definitive end.”
The fifth day of the conflict between Hamas and Israel begins with bombings in the Gaza Strip
It was Lula’s first demonstration at which the terrorist group Hamas, which is responsible for attacks on civilians that began on Saturday, was mentioned. So far, two Brazilians have been confirmed dead as a result of the terrorist attack.
On this occasion, the President called on the international community to conduct peace negotiations that would ensure the “existence of an economically viable Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel within secure borders for both sides.”
Lula says Brazil will “spare no effort to prevent an escalation of conflict” in Israel
What has happened so far
▶️ How was the attack? The actions were concentrated near the Gaza border, from where Hamas fired 5,000 rockets.
- Armed men from the south of the country invaded Israeli territory by land, air and sea, on motorcycles and paragliders.
- There were reports that the invaders shot people in the streets and kidnapped dozens of Israelis (including women and children) and took them to Gaza as hostages.
▶️ What was Israel’s reaction? Faced with the Hamas offensive, the Israeli government began retaliatory measures.
- “We are at war and we will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said shortly after the attack.
- “Our enemy will pay a price he has never known.”
- Also on October 7, Israel launched bombing raids on the Gaza Strip.
▶️ How many people died? The latest report from local authorities on Wednesday morning showed that more than 2,255 people had died. More than 1,200 were in Israel. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported registering 1,055 Palestinian deaths.
▶️ What is and where is the Gaza Strip? It is the Palestinian territory located on a narrow piece of land on the western coast of Israel, on the border with Egypt.
- The city, which is characterized by poverty and overpopulation, has 2 million inhabitants who live in an area of 360 km².
- To get an idea of this size compared to Brazilian cities: the territory is slightly larger than that of the city of Fortaleza (312.4 km²) and smaller than that of Curitiba (434.8 km²).
- Gaza was captured by Israel in the SixDay War in 1967 and handed over to the Palestinians in 2005. Gaza is currently experiencing a blockade of goods and services imposed by its border neighbors.
▶️ What is the history of conflict in the region? The dispute between Israel and Palestine has been going on for decades and has resulted in numerous armed clashes and deaths.
- In its modern form, it dates back to 1947, when the United Nations (UN) proposed the creation of two states, one Jewish and one Arab, in Palestine under a British mandate.
Read Lula’s full message below:
President Lula’s call to defend Palestinian and Israeli children
I would like to appeal to the UN SecretaryGeneral @antonioguterres and the international community to jointly and urgently use all resources to put an end to the gravest human rights violation in the Middle East conflict.
Children could never be taken hostage, no matter where in the world.
Hamas must release Israeli children kidnapped from their families. Israel must stop the bombing so that Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza Strip across the border with Egypt. In the madness of war there must be a minimum of humanity.
International humanitarian intervention is urgently needed. A ceasefire is urgently needed to defend Israeli and Palestinian children.
Brazil, under the interim presidency of the UN Security Council, will join efforts to bring the conflict to an immediate and definitive end. And he will continue to work to promote peace and defend human rights in the world.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Brazilian President