Lula meets Prime Minister of Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Shtayyeh

Shortly before taking part in the 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Brazil’s President Lula attended a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Mohammad Shtayyeh. The Prime Minister thanked Brazil and President Lula for the support and solidarity they have been showing for the Palestinian people, highlighting the need for an immediate ceasefire and openness to humanitarian aid.

Lula condemned Hamas’ attacks against Israeli civilians; defended an agreement towards a ceasefire; and reiterated the Brazilian government's commitment to a two-state solution—which means an economically viable Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside Israel, within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders.

Shtayyeh also highlighted that the situation in the region is worse than the figures that are being released. According to the Prime Minister, 30,000 Palestinian people have been killed; 70,000 injured; and an estimated 9,000 people are missing under the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed by the attacks. Since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, in October 2023, Brazil has defended a negotiated solution towards a ceasefire; the release of hostages; and the creation of conditions that guarantee humanitarian aid reaches people in the region.

The meeting with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority took place two days after Lula promised extra financial aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

To the Brazilian president, the decision by countries aligned with Israel to cut funding could have serious humanitarian consequences. On Thursday (15), during an extraordinary session of the League of Arab States in Cairo (Egypt), Lula announced that Brazil will continue to support the entity.

“Human and material losses are irreparable. We cannot trivialize the deaths of thousands of civilians as mere collateral damage,” he said in his speech. “The population of Gaza is suffering from hunger, thirst, disease and other types of deprivation, just as the World Health Organization has been warning us about, before our very eyes,” he added.

OFFICIAL VISIT — On Wednesday (14) President Lula began his second official trip to Africa since taking office for his third term. The first stop was Egypt. Last year, Lula visited South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe. The President had also been in Egypt in 2003—the first visit by a Brazilian head of state since the travels of Dom Pedro II in the 1870s.

The invitation for the visit—which celebrates 100 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Egypt—was made by the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at COP 27. The official mission marked the signing of two bilateral agreements: a protocol that ensures food safety and rigorous quality standards, and removes bureaucratic constraints on beef, pork and poultry exports from Brazil to Egypt; and a memorandum that reinforces partnerships, cooperation and research in the fields of science, technology and innovation between countries.

On Thursday (15), the Brazilian entourage headed to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Egypt and Ethiopia are among the five countries that confirmed their entry into BRICS this year. The delegation remains in Ethiopia until Sunday (18).

DELEGATION — President Lula traveled to Egypt and Ethiopia alongside Brazilian Ministers Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs); Wellington Dias (Development and Social Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger); Luciana Santos (Science, Technology and Innovation); Anielle Franco (Racial Equality); Silvio Almeida (Human Rights and Citizenship); Vinícius Marques de Carvalho (Comptroller General of the Union); and deputy chief advisor to the Special Advisor’s Office Audo Faleiro.