Lula: Gaza is the largest cemetery for children and women in the world

Lula calls Gaza the “largest cemetery for children and women” and warns of the risk of world war. ‘BRICS must intervene’, says president

The president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) declared this Wednesday (23), during the BRICS Summitwhich to Gaza Strip has become the “largest cemetery for children and women in the world” and highlighted that the bloc needs to intervene to prevent the escalation of this “senselessness”.

Although Lula had planned to attend the meeting in Kazan in person, Russiahe had to cancel his trip after suffering a domestic accident last Saturday (19), when he fell in the bathroom and injured the back of his head, requiring five stitches.

In his speech, Lula also discussed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. “As President Erdogan stated at the UN General Assembly, Gaza has become the largest cemetery for children and women in the world. This folly is now spreading to the West Bank and Lebanon. Preventing escalation and initiating peace negotiations is crucial in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” declared the president.

Lula warned that current conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have the potential to trigger a new world war. “Faced with the imminence of two wars with the potential to become global, it is vital that we recover our ability to work together in pursuit of common goals. Therefore, the motto of our presidency will be to strengthen cooperation in the Global South for more inclusive and sustainable governance”, he concluded.

It is important to highlight that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has intensified in the last week. Ten days after the biggest attack in Israel’s history, the Israeli army announced the elimination of Yahya Sinwarleader of Hamas, identified by Israeli authorities as the main person responsible for the attack.

Since the attack in October last year, more than 42,000 people have died in Palestinian territory, and the violence has spread to the Lebanonplacing the Middle East on the brink of a regional conflagration.

Inspeech integrity

“Even without being in Kazan in person, I want to record my satisfaction in addressing my BRICS comrades. I want to thank the support that the group’s members have extended to the Brazilian presidency of the G20.

Their support was fundamental in advancing initiatives that are crucial for reducing inequalities, such as taxing the super-rich.

Our countries have implemented successful social policies in recent decades that can serve as an example for the rest of the world.

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty is already in an advanced stage of membership.

I invite everyone to join the initiative, which was born at the G20, but is open to other participants.

BRICS is an essential actor in tackling climate change.

There is no doubt that the greatest responsibility lies with rich countries, whose emissions history culminated in the climate crisis that afflicts us today.

It is necessary to go beyond the 100 billion annually promised and not fulfilled, and strengthen measures to monitor the commitments made.

The scientific data express an unprecedented sense of urgency.

The planet is one and its future depends on collective action.

It is also up to emerging countries to do their part to limit the rise in global temperatures to one and a half degrees.

At COP 30, in Belém, together we will show that it is possible to reconcile greater ambition in our Nationally Determined Contributions with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

In the Brazilian presidency of BRICS, we want to reaffirm the bloc’s vocation in the fight for a multipolar world and for less asymmetrical relations between countries.

We cannot accept the imposition of “apartheids” in access to vaccines and medicines, as occurred during the pandemic, nor in the development of Artificial Intelligence, which is on its way to becoming a privilege for the few.

We need to strengthen our technological capabilities and favor the adoption of non-exclusive multilateral frameworks, in which the voice of governments prevails over private interests.

BRICS was responsible for a significant portion of world economic growth in recent decades.

Together, we are more than 3.6 billion people, who are part of dynamic markets with high social mobility.

We represent 36% of global GDP by purchasing power parity. We have 72% of the planet’s rare earths, 75% of the manganese and 50% of the graphite.

However, financial flows continue to go to rich nations.

It is a Marshall Plan in reverse, in which emerging and developing economies finance the developed world.

BRICS initiatives and institutions break with this logic.

The work of the Business Council contributed to expanding trade between us.

Brazilian exports to BRICS countries grew twelvefold between 2003 and 2023.

BRICS is today the origin of almost a third of Brazil’s imports.

The Women’s Business Alliance is creating networks to foster female economic empowerment and combat persistent gender inequalities.

Through the Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, our national development banks will establish credit lines in local currencies, which will reduce transaction costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The New Development Bank (NDB), which turns ten this year, has invested in the necessary infrastructure to strengthen our economies and promote a fair and sovereign transition.

Under the leadership of comrade Dilma Rousseff, the NDB currently has a portfolio of almost 100 projects and financing in the order of 33 billion dollars.

It was thought to succeed where the Bretton Woods institutions continue to fail.

Instead of offering programs that impose conditionalities, the NDB finances projects aligned with national priorities.

Instead of deepening disparities, its governance is based on voting equality.

Now is the time to move forward in creating alternative payment methods for transactions between our countries.

It’s not about replacing our currencies. But we need to work so that the multipolar order we seek is reflected in the international financial system.

This discussion needs to be faced with seriousness, caution and technical soundness, but it cannot be postponed any longer.

Many insist on dividing the world between friends and enemies. But the most vulnerable are not interested in simplistic dichotomies.

What they want is plenty of food, decent work and universally accessible, quality public schools and hospitals.

It is a healthy environment, without climatic events that put its survival at risk.

It is a life of peace, without weapons that victimize innocent people.

As President Erdogan said at the UN General Assembly, Gaza has become “the largest cemetery for children and women in the world”.

This foolishness is now spreading to the West Bank and Lebanon.

Avoiding escalation and initiating peace talks is also crucial in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

At a time when we face two wars with the potential to become global, it is essential to restore our ability to work together towards common goals.

Therefore, the motto of the Brazilian presidency will be “Strengthening Cooperation in the Global South for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.

Comrades, I hope to see you at the next Summit to build another chapter in our common history.

Thank you very much President Putin and many thanks to the comrades in Kazan.”