Lula criticizes Israel for its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon: “it only knows how to kill”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) criticized the Israeli government this Tuesday (1st) for the offensive against the extremist group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, considering it “inexplicable” that it is not possible to have a UN Security Council dialogue with the country.

The criticism came shortly before Iran launched missiles at Israel and promised an even bigger offensive in case of retaliation.

“I deeply regret the behavior of the Israeli government. Honestly, it is inexplicable that the UN Council does not have the moral and political authority to make Israel sit at a table to talk, instead of just knowing how to kill,” he told journalists in Mexico, where he is attending the inauguration of the new president, Claudia Sheinbaum. .

Lula has constantly criticized the Israeli government for the offensive that began in October last year after the Hamas terrorist attack against the country from the Gaza Strip. The president classified the retaliation as genocide.

The president also highlighted that he will carry out the repatriation operation of Brazilians in Lebanon “wherever necessary”. According to People’s Gazette learned from sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 3 thousand Brazilians have already asked for ransom in the operation that should begin next weekend.

The operation is being planned with the coordination of the Ministry of Defense, in preparation and logistics meetings that also involve the Lebanese and Israeli governments themselves.

According to sources informed to the report, Itamaraty is still working on the possibility of as many Brazilians as possible leaving Lebanon by other means – on commercial flights – to help with the repatriation of those who are unable to do so. Beirut airport, he said, remains open and operating flights.

Preliminary information indicates that requests are mainly from Brazilians who live in the Bekaa Valley region and the Lebanese capital.

The decision for the operation occurs due to the escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, and is expected to be even greater than that carried out in Gaza last year.

On September 20, the conflict intensified after the simultaneous explosion of thousands of communication devices belonging to Hezbollah members. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, more than a thousand people have been killed and six thousand injured in the last two weeks.

Two Brazilian teenagers died amid Israeli bombings in Lebanon: Mirna Raef Nasser, aged 16, was from Balneário Camboriú (SC), and Ali Kamal Abdallah, aged 15, from Foz do Iguaçu (PR). Itamaraty estimates that 21 thousand Brazilians live in Lebanon.

“The Embassy in Lebanon is taking the necessary measures to make the operation viable, in permanent contact with the Brazilian community and in close coordination with local authorities,” stated Itamaraty.

Last week, the Brazilian government condemned “in the strongest terms” the air strikes launched by Israel against Lebanon. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that Brazilians leave the conflict area.