Rousseff: Israel perpetrates massacre in Gaza

Dilma Rousseff stated that Israel is responsible for carrying out a “massacre by hitting civilians, especially women and children.” She described Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip as disproportionate. Ever since the bombardment began three weeks ago, 1,030 Palestinians have died, among whom women and children. On Israel’s side, 42 deaths have been reported, all of them soldiers.

“I don’t think it’s genocide, but I do think it’s a massacre. It’s a disproportionate action,” the president said. She also regarded as deplorable the statement of Yigal Palmo, the spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry. According to a local newspaper, he referred to Brazil as a “diplomatic dwarf.” “I feel sorry for the spokesman’s words, as [they] bring about a very negative atmosphere. We should be careful with words,” she declared.

Rousseff spoke on Monday (Jul 28), during a meeting organized by radio and television broadcasters of the Estado de São Paulo group to learn the stance adopted by the current presidential candidates.

The president, however, denied the existence of a diplomatic crisis with Israel, and reiterated that Brazil was the first country to recognize the Jewish state. She further argued that Brazil supports the existence of both Israel and Palestine as States.

Rousseff praised the position of the UN Security Council, which issued on Monday (28) a call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the area. “UN’s decision of demanding an immediate ceasefire is very welcome, since it’s a situation that must not continue,” she noted.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira