Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the US government's plan to take control of the Gaza Strip, announced alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (4).
“The US participated in encouraging everything Israel did in the Gaza Strip. So it doesn't make sense to meet with the president of Israel and say, 'We're going to occupy Gaza, we're going to recover Gaza, we're going to live in Gaza'. Where are the Palestinians going to go?” Lula declared on Wednesday morning (5) in an interview with Brazilian radio stations Itatiaia, Mundo Melhor, and BandNewsFM BH in Minas Gerais state.
“It's almost incomprehensible to any human being. People need to stop saying whatever comes into their heads. Everyone governs their own country, and let's leave other countries alone,” said Lula.
The president also once again described the Palestinian massacre as “genocide.” “What happened in Gaza was a genocide, and I honestly don't know if the United States, which is part of all this, would be the country to try to take care of Gaza. It's the Palestinians who have to take care of Gaza."They need reparations for everything that was destroyed to rebuild their homes, hospitals, and schools and live in dignity with respect,” said Lula.
“That's why we advocate the creation of a Palestinian state, like the state of Israel, and establishing a policy of harmonious coexistence, because that's what the world needs. The world doesn't need arrogance or catchphrases. The world needs peace and tranquility,” he added.
At one point, Lula stated that Trump “thrives on bluster,” saying, “You have the kind of politician who thrives on bluster. President Trump ran his campaign like this, and now in office, he's already announced that he's going to occupy Greenland, annex Canada, change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and occupy the Panama Canal. Honestly, no country, no matter how important, can fight with everyone all the time,” said the president.
Tariff war
Lula also pledged to impose tariffs on the United States if President Donald Trump does the same with products imported from Brazil.
“It's very simple: if he taxes Brazilian products, Brazil will reciprocate. There's no difficulty. I've governed Brazil under Republican and Democratic presidents. My relationship is always the same: that of a sovereign state with another sovereign state. I want to respect the US, and I want Trump to respect Brazil. That's it. If that happens, that's good enough,” said Lula.
Recently, Trump imposed tariffs of 10% on China and 25% on Canada and Mexico for allegedly failing to stem the unauthorized flow of immigrants and illicit drugs into US territory. However, the measures against the neighboring countries were postponed for a month, but tariffs on the Asian country came into force on February 10.
Edited by: Dayze Rocha
