03:18Mandatory credit: UNTV / News use only
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva claimed that Israel's 'right of defence' had become a 'right of revenge', during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"In Gaza and the West Bank, we are witnessing one of the biggest humanitarian crises in recent history, which is now dangerously spreading to Lebanon," he said. "What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become the collective punishment of the entire Palestinian people."
"There have been more than 40,000 fatalities, most of them women and children. The right of defence has been transformed into the right of revenge, which is preventing an agreement on the release of hostages and postponing the ceasefire," he added.
Lula also used his speech to condemn the 'debt burden' on African countries and added that global military spending had 'reached 2.4 trillion dollars' which 'could have been used to fight hunger and tackle climate change'.
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza recently expanded to include an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. Israel insists that the ongoing military actions are needed for its own security.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
'Right of defence has been transformed into the right of revenge' - Brazil's Lula on Israel-Hamas war during speech at UN
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva claimed that Israel's 'right of defence' had become a 'right of revenge', during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"In Gaza and the West Bank, we are witnessing one of the biggest humanitarian crises in recent history, which is now dangerously spreading to Lebanon," he said. "What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become the collective punishment of the entire Palestinian people."
"There have been more than 40,000 fatalities, most of them women and children. The right of defence has been transformed into the right of revenge, which is preventing an agreement on the release of hostages and postponing the ceasefire," he added.
Lula also used his speech to condemn the 'debt burden' on African countries and added that global military spending had 'reached 2.4 trillion dollars' which 'could have been used to fight hunger and tackle climate change'.
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza recently expanded to include an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. Israel insists that the ongoing military actions are needed for its own security.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.
Mandatory credit: UNTV / News use only
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva claimed that Israel's 'right of defence' had become a 'right of revenge', during his speech to the UN General Assembly High-level General Debate on Tuesday.
"In Gaza and the West Bank, we are witnessing one of the biggest humanitarian crises in recent history, which is now dangerously spreading to Lebanon," he said. "What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become the collective punishment of the entire Palestinian people."
"There have been more than 40,000 fatalities, most of them women and children. The right of defence has been transformed into the right of revenge, which is preventing an agreement on the release of hostages and postponing the ceasefire," he added.
Lula also used his speech to condemn the 'debt burden' on African countries and added that global military spending had 'reached 2.4 trillion dollars' which 'could have been used to fight hunger and tackle climate change'.
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza recently expanded to include an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. Israel insists that the ongoing military actions are needed for its own security.
The UNGA High-level General Debate continues in New York until September 30.