Brazilian Foreign Minister calls Israel's action in Gaza immoral

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira called Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip "immoral" and "illegal", during a speech in the West Bank. He also reaffirmed Brazil's commitment to supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"I will say it loud and clear: depriving people of access to food and water is both illegal and immoral. Attacking humanitarian operations and those seeking help is illegal and immoral. Preventing the sick and wounded from receiving healthcare is illegal and immoral. Destroying hospitals, holy sites, cemeteries, and shelters is illegal and immoral," stated Vieira in a speech delivered in the capital of the Palestinian Authority.

The foreign minister denounced the use of hunger and thirst as weapons of war, labeling it as "collective punishment," and emphasized that the trail of destruction and death inflicted on the innocent population would not be forgotten. His speech earned him a standing ovation. Additionally, during the ceremony, Vieira was awarded the title of honorary member of the Board of Trustees of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, conferred on behalf of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Vieira stressed the importance of ongoing contributions to UNRWA to sustain aid for over 5 million Palestinian refugees.

Meetings

The remarks were delivered during Vieira's visit to the West Bank, marking the initial phase of his trip to the Middle East. During his stay, the Brazilian minister held meetings in Ramallah with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to address the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Brazil's foreign minister reported that Abbas expressed gratitude to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for his commitment and friendship with Palestine. The president of the Palestinian Authority also commended Lula for his courageous stance in assuming the role of global reference in defense of the Palestinians during the current crisis. Additionally, Abbas thanked the Brazilian government for its support in advocating for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations (UN).

During the meeting between Vieira and Maliki, the Palestinian foreign minister lauded Lula's outspokenness in accurately depicting "the situation as it is," highlighting the Brazilian president as one of the first leaders “to advocate for the protection of civilians from the outset.” Maliki also voiced concern about the potential hazards of military operations in Rafah and reported an increase in violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.

In his last appointment of the day, Vieira met with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammed Shtayyeh, to discuss the crisis in Gaza and other countries in the Middle East. The discussions centered on joint strategies to secure full United Nations membership for Palestine.

Itinerary

The West Bank visit marks the initial phase of the Brazilian Foreign Minister's five-day Middle East tour. Mauro Vieira is scheduled to visit Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia later this week. Alongside the conflict in Gaza and the two-state solution aimed at peaceful and safe coexistence between Palestine and Israel, the Brazilian minister will address topics including technical cooperation, trade, and investment.

Vieira arrived in the West Bank from Amman, Jordan. The foreign minister opted for a direct flight to the Jordanian capital to avoid landing in Israel, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was declared persona non grata last month.