Brazilian artists urge Lula to sever ties with Israel over Gaza
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Brazilian artists, politicians, and activists call on Lula to take action against the Israeli occupation's genocide in Gaza, demanding sanctions and a break in ties.
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Graffiti artists paint outside the Supreme Court to express on canvas different constitutional rights in Brasilia, Brazil, on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 (AP)
A coalition of Brazilian artists, intellectuals, social movements, and politicians has called on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to break diplomatic ties with "Israel" in protest of what they describe as an ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The appeal, issued this week, stresses that verbal condemnation is no longer sufficient in the face of escalating atrocities. The signatories argue that the Israeli regime continues to defy rulings by the International Court of Justice, the UN Security Council, and the General Assembly.
Among those signing the letter are prominent singer Chico Buarque, actors Chico Diaz and Gregório Duvivier, as well as well-known political figure Guilherme Boulos. The signatories called for wide-ranging sanctions against the Israeli occupation, including the cancellation of energy and military cooperation agreements.
Demands for further steps
While acknowledging Lula’s strong rhetorical stance against the aggression on Gaza, the letter urged the Brazilian government to take concrete steps such as halting oil exports and ceasing the purchase of Israeli military equipment.
The demands align with the position of UN experts, who have stated that to comply with the International Court of Justice’s ruling, countries must suspend economic and trade ties with "Israel" and terminate academic cooperation until it ends its genocidal campaign, military occupation, and apartheid policies, and upholds Palestinians' right to self-determination.
Lula criticizes Trump proposal on Gaza
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed deep skepticism over the US proposal to "take control" of Gaza, calling it a pretext for the forced displacement of Palestinians under the guise of "bringing peace to the Middle East."
Speaking to the media, Lula questioned whether the US, the Israeli occupation's closest ally, had any legitimate right to occupy Palestinian land.
"What happened in Gaza was genocide," he stated. "Honestly, I don't know if the United States, which is part of all this, is the right country to oversee Gaza."
Lula further criticized Washington’s global role, remarking, "The US has been marketed as a symbol of world democracy, but it has appointed itself as the planet’s judge."
