Brazil’s Lula Criticizes UN Inaction, Denounces Gaza Genocide and Israeli Settlements at UNGA
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated at the outset of his address to the UN General Assembly that the organization has failed in its crucial mission to liberate humanity from the “scourge of war.” President Lula criticized the current state of the United Nations, remarking, “Its credibility has never been lower.” He further added that the UN’s capacity to protect the most vulnerable, those without military might or arsenals, has never been so weakened.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a battlefield, President Lula highlighted, pointing to the economic consequences of disrupted transit through the vital waterway. He noted that this passage, which should be a critical artery for international trade, has been transformed into a “battlefield.” The increase in fuel and fertilizer prices, he explained, imposes greater costs on families worldwide.
The Brazilian president also posited that the world stands at a crossroads between multilateralism and unilateralism, democracy and extremism, and sovereignty or submission. He emphasized that these choices demand courage, political will, and clarity of purpose.
Regarding Haiti and Cuba, President Lula addressed the ongoing crisis in Haiti, which continues to challenge the international community’s indifference. Concerning Cuba, he characterized the economic and energy blockade against 10 million people as “collective punishment” and deemed it illegal.
Generations of Palestinians will carry the pain and trauma resulting from the killing of women and children in Gaza, President Lula asserted. He attributed responsibility for these actions to the regime of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also called for Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, not to be silenced for speaking “the truth.” The Brazilian president further condemned Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank, stating that these actions make the two-state solution, which he believes is essential for the secure lives of both Palestinians and Israelis, increasingly difficult and unachievable.
President Lula also affirmed his administration’s commitment to intensifying the fight against organized crime and corruption that continue to affect Brazil. He reported that Brazilian authorities set a record in 2025 for drug seizures and the confiscation of illegal assets, adding that the government will continue to seriously confront all levels of crime, including “masterminds of organized crime.” He stressed that organized crime and corruption go hand in hand, and his government will pursue an “unrelenting” fight against corruption. President Lula concluded by stating, “No one is above the law.”
