SAO PAULO: Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira held meetings in Ramallah on Sunday with the Palestinian president, prime minister and foreign minister, and participated in an event at the Yasser Arafat Foundation.
At the event, Vieira participated in an award ceremony in which Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was granted the title of honorary member of the foundation’s board of trustees.
Vieira received the tribute from Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who praised Lula’s support for Palestine.
In a speech, Vieira criticized Israel and the international community for insufficient humanitarian aid since the Gaza conflict began.
He described as “illegal and immoral” the denial of food, water and medicine to Palestinian civilians, attacks on humanitarian aid convoys, and the destruction of hospitals.
“The credibility of the current international governance system is under the rubble of Gaza,” Vieira said.
He reviewed Brazilian initiatives in favor of a cessation of hostilities in Gaza since October, and his country’s historical support for the recognition of Palestine as a state and its admission as a full member of the UN.
Afterward, Vieira met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Abbas expressed thanks for Lula’s historical commitment and friendship toward Palestine.
He also thanked the Brazilian government for its support for the admission of Palestine as a full UN member.
Vieira was received in Ramallah by Foreign Minister Riad Malki, who described the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and praised Lula for defending Palestine and its people.
Malki said Lula has spoken “strongly and clearly” about Gaza, describing “the situation as it is.”
Malki expressed concern about the risks of Israeli military action in Rafah in southern Gaza, and reported an increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Vieira reiterated Brazil’s willingness to lead efforts for the admission of Palestine as a full UN member.
He also visited the Brazilian Representation Office in Ramallah and, accompanied by Ambassador Alessandro Candeias, met with Fatima Rashid Hamayel, president of the Council of Brazilian Citizens in Palestine, and council member Jamila Abed.
Hamayel and Abed thanked Lula for his commitment to defending Palestine, and conveyed the community’s appreciation for the rapid repatriation of Brazilians from Gaza.
Vieira also met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. They discussed Gaza, growing tensions in the West Bank and the wider region, and joint strategies to make Palestine a full UN member.
After Ramallah, Vieira will have meetings this week in Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
