Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said that the "unjust declaration" of Brazilian President Lula da Silva as a "persona no grata" by "Israel" was in fact a privilege. 

In a post on X, Morales clarified that the classification was a privilege because it came from a genocidal government that was massacring children, extending solidarity with Lula da Silva.

He also indicated that the president's actions came in defense of a dignified people who have been getting ethnically cleansed for 137 days, affirming that the Brazilian President is committed to "life and peace before the international community and the people of the world."

Nuestra solidaridad con el hermano @LulaOficial, injustamente declarado como "persona no grata", por defender la vida y dignidad del pueblo palestino ante el genocidio en Gaza realizado por el Estado de #Israel. Ser declarado persona no grata por un gobierno genocida que realiza… pic.twitter.com/4TxoiDTsDH

— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) February 19, 2024

President Lula accused "Israel" on Sunday of committing "genocide" against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, likening its crimes to Adolf Hitler's in Nazi Germany. This was not Lula's first time to draw such comparisons, nor was he the first world leader to do so.

Lula gets banned from 'Israel'

Responding to Lula's comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to them as "Holocaust trivialization" that aims to strip the Jewish people of the right to "self-defense".

He stated that comparing the occupation to Nazis and Hitler was "crossing a red line."

Netanyahu also dared to claim that "Israel's" attempt to "defend itself" was being done by "upholding international law."

He stated that he decided to summon the Brazilian ambassador to "Israel" for an "immediate reproach".

However, the Israeli Foreign Minister proclaimed Monday that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not welcome in "Israel" unless he retracts the statements he made comparing the Israeli onslaught in Gaza to the Holocaust. 

Brazil, on the other hand, has no plans to retract Silva's statement, Reuters reported on Monday citing sources with knowledge of internal discussions.

According to the sources, the directive from Lula is clear: there will be no retraction, and any responses will be conveyed through diplomatic channels.