Adedokun Waliyu 
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has withdrawn the country’s ambassador to Israel.
The withdrawal of the Brazilian Ambassador to Israel on Wednesday followed months of tensions between the two countries over the war in Gaza.
The move was announced in Brazil’s official gazette, Associated Press reports.
During a press conference in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in February, Lula accused Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
He likened Israel’s actions in Gaza to the actions of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler and other European countries who exterminated their Jewish populations in the first half of the 20th century.
But Israel criticised Lula’s comment and summoned the South American country’s envoy for an official protest and public reprimand.
Associated Press reports that an official with Brazil’s foreign ministry said the withdrawal of the country’s ambassador was in response to that humiliating action and the fact that Israel had not changed its policy towards Gaza.
On Tuesday, May 28, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised Palestinian statehood.
The governments of the three countries last week vowed to officially recognise Palestine as a state, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors from the countries.
Israel also accused the three European nations of encouraging terrorism.
The three governments have said they hope by acting together they will encourage other European countries to follow suit.
The recognition of Palestine by the three countries will put more pressure on Israel as regards the ongoing war in Gaza.
It comes after two international courts called for an end to military operations in southern Gaza and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of war crimes.
