AhlulBayt News Agency: Two of Brazil’s major oil trade union federations have called on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to impose an energy embargo on Israel in response to its ongoing military actions in Gaza.
The National Federation of Oil Workers and the Single Federation of Oil Workers jointly signed a letter addressed to the Brazilian president and various ministers, urging them to take stronger action against the war being waged on the Palestinian territory.
The federations stressed that Brazil must go beyond issuing statements and enact a full ban on oil sales to Israel, aiming to stop what they refer to as the “ongoing Nakba”—a term used to describe the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948.
According to the letter, Brazil exported 2.7 million barrels of crude oil to Israeli-controlled territories last year, making up a significant portion of Tel Aviv’s military fuel supply.
The federations also pointed out Brazil’s legal obligation to avoid contributing to war crimes and crimes against humanity, referencing international organizations and legal experts, including the NGO Oil Change International (OCI).
Signatories urged Brazil to “honor its diplomatic legacy, affirm its position on the right side of history, and align its economic policies with human rights and international law.”
The letter praised steps taken by other nations, such as Colombia’s suspension of coal exports to Israeli-controlled areas last year.
President Lula has been vocal in condemning the war in Gaza, strongly criticizing Israel’s military operations in the territory.
Earlier this week, the Chilean government announced it would withdraw all military, defense, and air force attaches from Tel Aviv in protest of the ongoing war.
On May 28, Chile’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement citing the “extremely serious humanitarian situation currently experienced by Palestinians in Gaza” as the reason for its decision.
Since October 7, 2023, at least 54,381 Palestinians have been killed—most of them women and children—and another 124,054 injured as a result of Israeli military actions.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military affairs minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the besieged coastal territory.
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