President Lula talks with representatives of Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke this Thursday morning (26), through a video conference call, with Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum — which brings together family members of people who disappeared or were made hostage by Hamas on October 7.

The call took place at the request of the Forum, by means of a letter addressed to Lula, following Hamas' terrorist acts. Family members of a missing Brazilian person took part in the conversation.

After listening to the families of the hostages, President Lula condemned the attacks against civilians, under any circumstances, and emphasized the importance of listening to people directly affected by terrorism and war. He recalled that, in both sides of the conflict, there are people who want peace.

Family members told how relatives were captured, and how they lost contact with them. Several of them are young people kidnapped by Hamas during a music festival. Some suffer from chronic illnesses and are lacking medication. In most cases, there is not even evidence that they are alive.

Expressing his solidarity, the president said that, as a father and grandfather, he shares the pain of the affected families — and stated that Brazil is also in mourning for what happened. He also recalled the two trips he made to Israel, in 1993 and 2010, and the excellent relationship he had with former president Shimon Peres.

The Forum asked Lula to continue supporting the group's demand for the release of hostages. The president responded that he is personally committed to building peace, freeing hostages and opening a humanitarian corridor. He assured that he has treated the issue as a priority in the conversations he has been holding with international leaders concerning the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Lula has already contacted the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, France, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar and the European Council.

The president recalled that the resolution presented by Brazil at the UN Security Council — which was widely  supported by its members but vetoed by one of them — contained an explicit reference to the need for immediate release of all hostages by Hamas. He assured that Brazil will continue to strive for the release of the hostages throughout his term as president of the UNSC, and even after it ends in December.

The president was accompanied by Senator Jaques Wagner, leader of the Brazilian government in the Senate, and special advisor Clara Ant, both of Jewish descent, as well as Advisor for International Affairs Celso Amorim.