Brazil recalls ambassador to Israel amid ongoing tensions over Gaza

Brazil withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Wednesday at the direction of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva following months of tension between the two nations over Israel's actions in Gaza.

Brazil's official gazette announced the withdrawal of Ambassador Frederico Meyer from Israel, according to The Associated Press.

The action reportedly came in response to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz's decision to summon Meyer to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem after Lula compared Israel's actions in Gaza to the Holocaust.

Lula had said in February that "what is happening in the Gaza Strip and to the Palestinian people hasn’t been seen in any other moment in history. Actually, it did when Hitler decided to kill the Jews."

Meyer was transferred to Geneva and will join Brazil's United Nations permanent mission.

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