Brazil condemns escalation of conflict in Middle East
The Brazilian government released a statement on Wednesday (Oct. 2) regarding Iran's launch of approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory the day before. In the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned "the escalation of the conflict" and urged "all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint."
On Tuesday (1), Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced it had launched missiles toward Israel, warning that any retaliation would be met with a "more devastating and ruinous" response, according to Iranian state television.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran, his country's long-standing adversary, would face consequences for its military actions.
The ministry stated that Brazil reaffirms its "conviction regarding the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire across the Middle East and urges the international community to employ all available diplomatic means to prevent the conflict from escalating further."
In another statement, the Brazilian government condemned the terrorist attack claimed by Hamas in the Israeli city of Jaffa, which left seven dead and 16 injured.
According to the ministry, the Brazilian embassy in Tel Aviv is closely monitoring the situation of Brazilian citizens in Israel, maintaining constant contact and offering guidance and consular assistance.
In the early hours of Thursday (3), an Israeli strike targeted downtown Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion, according to Reuters.
Context
Since September 23rd, Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes on Lebanese cities. In just over a week, more than 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed, and 1 million have been displaced from their homes, according to United Nations (UN) agencies.
Israel asserts that its attacks on Lebanon target the infrastructure and leadership of Hezbollah, a political and military organization responsible for launching strikes against northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The group has vowed to persist in its assaults as long as Israeli forces maintain their occupation of Gaza.
A Brazilian Air Force plane departed from Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (2) en route to Beirut. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 3,000 Brazilians are seeking to leave Lebanon.
The largest community of Brazilians in the Middle East today is in Lebanon. In all, 21,000 Brazilians live in the country.
