• Brazil's Lula condemns Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide at the BRICS summit.
• He emphasizes the urgent need for multilateralism and peace efforts.
• The summit coincides with discussions of longstanding geopolitical tensions involving BRICS nations.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while addressing leaders from 11 emerging nations at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza, labeling them as a "genocide." He urged the global community to take action against what he described as "the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war," highlighting the urgent need for intervention to resolve the ongoing crisis, according to trtglobal and Al Jazeera.

In his remarks, Lula noted the critical state of multilateralism, declaring, "we have witnessed an unparalleled collapse of multilateralism," a situation exacerbated by the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other global crises. He warned that fundamental advancements in climate and trade are now under threat, emphasizing the need for cohesive international dialogue, as reported by aa and trtglobal.

During the summit, Lula declared that "absolutely nothing could justify the terrorist actions of Hamas" during the recent escalation but criticized Israel's overwhelming military response, which has resulted in heavy civilian casualties. He stated that peace in the region can only be achieved with the end of the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, underscoring the bloc's capacity to mediate such conflicts, according to Al Jazeera and aa.

Lula's address also touched upon broader international tensions, including the "violations of Iran's territorial integrity," and he emphasized the necessity for deepening direct dialogue in Ukraine for achieving lasting peace. The Brazilian leader reinforced the notion that investing in peace should take precedence over conflict, highlighting a return of nuclear fear to contemporary life, which was echoed by both the summit’s agenda and discussions among attending leaders, as emphasized in multiple reports including trtglobal and aa.