Skip to main content
Live blog update| Israel's war on Gaza

Brazilian president 'unwelcome' in Israel unless he retracts pro-Palestine remarks

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva is unwelcome in Israel unless he retracts comments likening Israel's war on Gaza to the Nazi genocide during World War Two, the Israeli foreign minister said on Monday.

"We will not forget nor forgive. It is a serious antisemitic attack. In my name and the name of the citizens of Israel - tell President Lula that he is persona non grata in Israel until he takes it back," Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Brazil's ambassador, according to a statement from Katz's office.

Israel's air and ground offensive has devastated much of Gaza since 7 October, killing more than 29,000 people, the vast majority women and children.

The bloody campaign has resulted in displacing more than two million Palestinians from their home and wounding at least 69,028.