Appeal by President Lula in defense of Palestinian and Israeli children

I would like to make an appeal to the UN Secretary General, @antonioguterres, and to the international community, so that together and urgently we use all means to put an end to the most serious violation of human rights in the conflict in the Middle East.

Children should never be taken hostage anywhere in the world.

Hamas must release the Israeli children taken from their families. Israel must stop the bombing to allow Palestinian children and their mothers to leave Gaza through the border with Egypt. There must be a minimum of humanity in the madness of war.

There is an urgent need for international humanitarian action. A ceasefire in defense of Israeli and Palestinian children is urgent.

Brazil, as president of the UN Security Council, will join the efforts to bring the conflict to an immediate and definitive end. And it will continue to work for the promotion of peace and the protection of human rights in the world.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of Brazil