Brazil’s President Lula Extends Warm Welcome to Gaza’s Rescued Citizens, Strongly Condemns Brutal Acts of Violence

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva personally welcomed 32 nationals back to Brazil after they were rescued from the Gaza Strip. The group had spent a month negotiating their return and finally crossed the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday. They were then taken to Cairo, where they boarded a loaned Embraer presidential airplane and flew to Brazil via Las Palmas, Spain. Lula expressed his support for Brazilians still in or arriving from Gaza and condemned the violence against innocent civilians. This rescue operation was the tenth carried out by Brazil since the conflict in the region began. In total, 1,477 people have been rescued, including three Bolivians, 11 Palestinians, one Jordanian citizen, and 53 pets. The Gaza Strip has been under bombardment from Israel, which is targeting Hamas, the militant group in control of the area. Lula criticized both Hamas for their attack on Israel and Israel for their reaction, stating that children and women should not be victims of war.