Brazil withdraws its envoy to Israel after Rafah assault

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has withdrawn his country's ambassador to Israel, Frederico Meyer, amid escalating tensions over Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza.

The decision, announced in Brazil's official gazette on Wednesday, comes after months of tensions between the two nations, with Lula being a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza. The Brazilian leader had previously compared Israel's offensive to the Holocaust, drawing a rebuke from Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Ambassador Meyer has been reassigned to Geneva, where he will join Brazil's permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations.

Lula's move has drawn support from other Latin American leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has also severed ties with Israel. Both Brazil and Colombia have backed South Africa's complaint against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, alleging that the Gaza assault constitutes a breach of the Genocide Convention.

The conflict in Gaza has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed and 81,000 wounded. Israel has also suffered losses, with at least 1,139 deaths and dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

As the assault continues, Israel faces growing global condemnation, particularly over its restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza. The United Nations has warned of a catastrophic situation in Rafah, the last city in Gaza to see a ground offensive, with up to 1.4 million people sheltering there. Since the offensive began on May 7, one million people have fled the area, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Brazil's withdrawal of its ambassador is seen as a strong statement against Israel's actions and a call for international action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.