Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Addis Ababa, February 22, 2024 (FBC) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the Gaza crisis, among other topics, on Wednesday.

“President Lula reaffirmed his wish for peace and an end to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip,” the Brazilian presidential office said in a statement after the meeting. “Both agreed on the need for the creation of a Palestinian State.”

On February 18, Lula da Silva compared Israel’s attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to the massacre of Jews by Nazis during World War II, sparking a diplomatic scuffle between the two countries.

His remarks garnered widespread attention, prompting Israel to declare Lula da Silva “persona non grata” until he retracted his statement. Brazil’s president, meanwhile, recalled his ambassador in Tel Aviv for consultation.

Following his meeting with the Brazilian president, Blinken traveled to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the meeting of foreign ministers from the G20.