President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said that the president of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, kills innocent people to stay in power. The Chief Executive received this Sunday (6) the Brazilians rescued on the first repatriation flight from Lebanon.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) plane. Lula made a statement after the passengers disembarked.
“We had a very harsh punishment against Hamas’ act of invading Tel Aviv, but we have a very harsh punishment against the behavior of the Israeli government killing innocent people, women, children, without any respect for human life. It’s a way that Israel’s president, Netanyahu, found to stay in power. It’s taking revenge on the Palestinians,” said the president.
Lula said that the government will continue working to repatriate all Brazilians who are in Lebanon and who wish to return to Brazil. The Palácio do Planalto estimate is that around three thousand people expressed interest in returning to Brazilian territory.
“I hope you find in Brazil the happiness that took away from you with this bombing in Lebanon,” he said.
In his speech, the president criticized the bombings carried out by Israel in Beirut, the Lebanese capital. “Brazil is a generous country. There is no dispute with any country in the world. We don’t want war. War only destroys. What builds is peace”, he stated.
The head of the Executive went to Guarulhos after voting in São Bernardo do Campo (SP), in ABC Paulista. Lula is expected to return to Brasília (DF) this Sunday (6).
First Lady Janja da Silva accompanied Lula to welcome the repatriated Brazilians. She spoke after the passengers disembarked, directing her speech to women and children.
“(I want) to say again a message to the men of the world: please stop killing our women and children. Stop this war. The world needs peace. We don’t need bombs and more deaths,” said the first lady.
FAB commander Marcelo Damasceno said the goal is to repatriate 500 people per week. The KC-30 aircraft used in this first flight will take off from São Paulo Air Base at 2 pm, bound for Lebanon. The plane must follow the same route. The repatriated passengers are expected to arrive in Brazilian territory on Tuesday (8).
