Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sharply criticized "Israel" on Thursday, accusing it of committing a "premeditated genocide" against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Lula asserted that the war on Gaza is "a premeditated genocide from a far-right government that is waging a war, including against the interests of its own people."

He emphasized that the ongoing war is not a conventional military operation but a systematic targeting of civilians. "What is happening in Gaza is not a war. It's a genocide being carried out by a highly prepared army against women and children," Lula said. "We see a genocide unfold under our eyes day after day. It's no longer possible to accept."

France pushes for diplomatic resolution

President Macron, while avoiding the term "genocide", stressed the urgency of diplomatic action. "The coming days will be decisive to halt the conflict," he stated, pledging to increase pressure in coordination with the United States to achieve a ceasefire.

France, alongside Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to co-host a United Nations conference in New York later this month aimed at advancing a two-state solution. Macron said he expects the conference to take steps "towards recognizing Palestine," though he did not elaborate on specific measures.

Macron previously expressed hope that French recognition of a Palestinian state would encourage other nations to follow suit. However, he has refrained from labeling "Israel’s" campaign in Gaza as genocide, saying last month that such terminology should be determined by historians, not politicians.

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US vetoes Gaza ceasefire again

Meanwhile, the United States on Wednesday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza, despite the support of all 14 other council members, including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

The veto marks the fifth time since October 7, 2023, that Washington has blocked such a resolution at the Security Council, again citing concerns that the proposed measure failed to include direct condemnation of Hamas or address hostage release demands.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic." It called for the "immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution at scale, including by the UN and humanitarian partners."

US Deputy Ambassador Dorothy Shea defended the veto, labeling the draft resolution "unacceptable" and reiterating Washington’s position that no resolution would be supported unless it explicitly condemned Hamas, demanded its disarmament, and its withdrawal from Gaza.

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